Rev. A.J. Ogden

If we had the opportunity to speak to the prophet Isaiah today, he would say that these days are pretty much the same as when he lived and preached. Then, as now, people did not want to be confronted with their sin life. Now they would say, “Don’t give us any of that hell fire and brimstone, John the Baptist preaching. We want to hear positive messages, or those that don’t condemn sin in our lives.”

Listen to him speak in Isaiah 30:9-11, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Well, this was scripture from the book of Isaiah, but you would think he is referring to the way it is in America today. That is just about where we stand right now.

Today they say, “Preachers, don’t preach the truth, just tell funny little stories, for we like to laugh. Leave off the truth about sin and Hell. Preach unto us smooth things. Lie to us pastor, tell us we are pretty good even though we steal God’s tithe, commit adultery, swear, gossip, fight and kill. Pat us on the back, overlook our sins and run God off if you can, and if you can’t we deacons will run you off.”