Helping Others into the Lake of Fire

As I read through Ephesians this morning, I stopped at this text:

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.” (Ephesians 5:5-7)

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of this one in 1 Corinthians:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

In the not too distant past, a church leader told me he doesn’t speak of sins such as abortion, fornication, or active homosexuality lest he offend someone in the congregation.

Others in church hierarchy have told me it is for the same reason they do not counsel congregants how to vote according to Biblical principles and the tenets spelled out in historical church teaching.

How has it happened that so many church leaders are NOT guiding their flock toward righteous choices? God commands pastors and deacons and others in church leadership – AS WELL AS the person in the pew – God commands us all to speak the truth in love to those living in sin and to those who routinely make sinful choices.

Refusing to speak God’s word to such people is not ‘love.’ It is moral cowardice at worst. It is delinquency in our Christian duty at best. By refusing to counsel or warn others is to do nothing else but help the sinner on his or her way to the eternal Lake of Fire.

There is what ought to be frightening texts in Ezekiel’s prophecy. God says the same thing twice: once in chapter three and again in chapter thirty-three. Every Christian leader and laity ought to pay close attention. God is serious about speaking His truth to others – including to those we do not want to offend:


“Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.” (Ezekiel 3:17b-19, NLT)

Oh, Holy Spirit, raise up bold laborers to work in your fields that are ready to harvest. Amen.