Feel-good Sinners

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. (Jeremiah 1:7-10)

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. (Jeremiah 1:17-19)

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:8-11)

I don't know whether God's instructions to the prophet are directly applicable to me, but as one who has access to the writing of the prophets I think they must be to some extent.

There really are a lot of Christians who trust in their words to save them from trouble. There really are many who break God's law and come to church and say they are "free" and "at liberty" and because of Jesus' sacrifice they can keep sinning with impunity. They make the church into a place that makes the unrepentant feel good. God called on Jeremiah to rebuke these falsehoods.

Probably the best way for ordinary Christians to rebuke the happy wicked in the church is simply to live righteously. You will not usually know who they are until you begin to obey God and find them turning on you. Do not condemn, do not think or say at any time that any of these people have no hope. Only thank them and pray for them in secret and realise that their words of "caution" about being "extreme" are unlikely from God.