Ezek 3:17-20
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die-, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
According to the Lord, warnings occupy an important place in His revelation. As indicated in verse 17, they were appointed by God for the benefit of His people. He made provision for needed warnings to be given to His people (v. 18). Their purpose is quite positive, the delivering of the lives of those people needing such warnings. So important are they that there is definite peril when no warning is given (vv. 18,20). The reality of dying in sin for those guilty and the requiring of blood at the hand of the messenger failing to warn both stress the need for warning. The understanding of these matters is fundamental to the recognition that preaching the gospel involved a message counted both positive and negative by those hearing it.
Though classed as negative preaching by some, that teaching which warns about real dangers (both present, and near) is actually positive, because of its useful effect. It is also practical because of its application to one's faith and course of life. Do we think storm warnings negative because we do not enjoy hearing them. What about the flood warnings that are sometimes sounded to alert people to such possibility? Are they deemed unwise, impractical, and negative? When parents or teachers warn young people about the dangers of alcohol or drugs, are they scorned and rejected. for being impractical and negative? To the contrary, all such warnings affecting the health and welfare of citizens are valued by people aware of such dangers.'- Why, then, do people resist warnings about spiritual perils? Why are such sometimes rejected as negative and impractical? Those viewing them in this way clearly do not understand the danger; otherwise, they would know the need for the warnings.
Warnings are unpleasant sometimes, and it is their unpleasant aspect that sometimes discomforts those needing them. People addicted to alcohol/drugs sometimes treat warnings similarly because of the discomfort felt. Proper attitude is necessary for one in such a situation for the warning to accomplish good. The person giving the warning cannot be held responsible for the poor attitude of one resisting the warning, whether of a storm, a flood, or of harmful effects of chemical substances. The negative element in such situations is the attitude of the one receiving the warning. The warning is positive, but the attitude of the one warned is negative. His negative attitude is responsible for his resistance to the warning, rendering it ineffective and impractical. So it is with one guilty of sin, when his attitude is less than honest toward truth. His own negative attitude toward the spiritual warnings of the Word, whether read or taught, is the factor that renders the warnings impractical and ineffective. A parent warning a teenager about reckless driving might encounter a positive attitude or a negative one. A warning prompted by love and delivered in kindness still sometimes meets rejection in one whose attitude is undesirable. When such warnings are disregarded, the one giving the warnings is not responsible for the results.
God's warnings have come through the prophets (Jer. 7:25-27), through Jesus (Mt. 24:1-13), through the apostles (Acts 13:38-41;8:20-24; 1 Cor. 11:27; Gal. 4:10,11), through elders (Heb. 13-17) through preachers (2 Tim. 4:5), and through all Christians (Jas. 5:19-20).
God's Word consists of more than warnings-instruction, example, encouragement, comfort. All facets or aspects of the Word must be incorporated if teaching be balanced. Circumstances of the time dictate what pressing needs must be addressed first or emphasized more than others. No teacher of the Scriptures can neglect these pressing needs and remain true to his duty to God. No teacher of the Word likewise can neglect the other aspects of Biblical teaching and remain true to his duty to God.
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