Minor Prophets XCIX: A Bullhorn for The Almighty

In Malachi 2:1-9 it is clear that God doesn’t view the priest’s actions as commensurate with that worthy of a Levite priest. In this passage Malachi immediately launches into a warning (on God’s behalf) that acknowledges that He knows they are doing wrong and “If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name” He says they will be cursed. As a matter of fact, He has already cursed them since they have resolved not to honor God either willingly or through their involuntary action and behavior.

The current priests in Malachi’s time are not measuring up to the expectations of God. I base this on the statement from Malachi: “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name” He continues by making statements such as “True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips” and “and turned many from sin”

Priests are called to preserve the knowledge of God, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. Instead these “priests” turned away from the precepts of God and have caused many to fall. The priests have violated their solemn vows to the Lord so He has caused them to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because they have not obeyed God’s precepts and put forth the Law in the proper manner thereby causing many to sin and fall into condemnation.

Sometimes I wonder about those that follow in the tradition of the Levites nowadays. Our pastors in our churches. How many really are truly trying to put forth what they believe to the best of their ability is what God wills…or are they putting forth what they think is the best for the Church. Do they answer to the desires and wills of their hearts which are wicked and depraved or are they doing the best to assure they are in line with what the Bible (God) says and what the Holy Spirit has convicted them to do? Do they have that “still small voice”. We see them all over the media, in the news and even in our local churches. Pastors or so-called spiritual leaders that claim to have the "5 Steps to Whatever" to make your life better. Or the Pastor-Writer who deliberately writes provocative books that do more to promote his "hip" views rather than glorify the God he is called to proclaim. Or the so-called evangelist that can heal on command. The Pastor that preaches, neh, rails against sexual immorality or homosexuality only to be caught in a compromising sexual situation out of wedlock or with the same gender. The leader that preaches and teaches modesty and frugality and comes to service to preach in a different 2K suit every week. The leader who has to tell people how wise he is and how great he is only to be found incompetent and not what he said he was. Those that blow their own horn need to be watched with a leery eye. When they say, "You can trust me" you know something is amiss. Those that understand their place as the servant are serve better. Where are you? Where is the leader of your church. Are you using discernment? Are they?

The Pastor or the spiritual leader of a church is called to be the "servant of the servants of God" not some self-proclaimed king. He is to adhere to the precepts of the Bible. He is not there to promote his agenda or a political agenda, he is there to teach the Word of God. He is not their to expand his kingdom, he is there to promote The Kingdom. God's Kingdom. He is not a bullhorn for his ideas, he is a bullhorn for God.