a Watchman

[LizMusica]

I am having trouble with this passage on Ezekiel 33. Is this talking about those who fail to tell others about Jesus, they will be responsible for not warning them and in return they are not saved and end up in hell, or are we still saved yet we hold this burden of not telling them about the gospel, and what is to come in the future?

Trying to understand what the passage is saying:redface I know I have held back unfortunetly when I could have told them the truth...

what are you thoughts?

Ezekiel 33:1-9
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. 5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.'
7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

[newname]

Hi Liz! How are you?

Before looking directly at this passage, let's look at the question more generally. The question is: are we responsbile for other people?

The answer is undoubtedly 'YES'! No one is an island unto themselves....we all share responsibility with eachother. Let me give you just a very practical example:

Let's say there is a teenage kid playing in the street. Now, the kid is being very stupid to play in the middle of the highway. Well, a car comes flying by and hits the kid and he dies. The kid is 100% responsible because he made the decision to stupidly play in the street --- but here is the question: if you saw that a car was coming and you didn't warn the kid, do you share any guilt in his death? I think the answer is unquestionably 'yes'.

Again, the kid is 100% responsible for his own actions --- but, it doesn't remove your personal responsibility if you could have helped avert tragedy but didn't. You have an account to give for your personal actions there as well. I believe the same thing would go for the cases where some kid is picked on and it drives him to go on a school shooting spree. The shooter is 100% responsible for his own evil actions, but at the same time, those that tormented him share a responsilbity for their own evil actions in picking or making fun of him and ultimately (in whatever way) playing a part in the shooter's ultimate actions.

This is the point: we all have a responsiblity beyond ourselves. Life is not a solo adventure --- everything is intimately connected to others. Think about the law. It says the Law is summed up in this 'you shall love your neighbour as yourself'. Even those laws were not so much about the people themselves as they were about how breaking those laws would affect others.

Therefore, we all have real responsiblity for not only warning people, but encouraging them on to better things as well.

Now, that passage in Ezekiel. The direct context, of course, was not about testifying to Christ --- but the application is certainly their. We hold the gospel of Christ in our hands. The bible says 'how can they believe unless someone preaches to them'. Unless people hear the gospel from the Church, they will not believe. That is the responsiblity of the great commission. Unless the Church reaches the world.....they will not be reached. Plain and simple.

Now, if someone dies in their sins their guilt is 100% on their own head.......but, we must give an account as well if we did not warn them. Just like the kid playing in the street --- he is 100% responsible, but if we do not shout 'look out!' ,and we could have, then we also have to give an account for that.

Yes, it is a sin not to try and save others......but never forget that Jesus died for those sins as well. Whenever we fail to give the gospel to someone...Jesus died for that sin as well! Don't be discouraged in past failures --- I have failed in this area as well. I could have given the gospel at different times, but I flat out chickened out. I sinned! But, I rest in the gospel of grace and the work of Christ.........as I continue to walk with Christ, I know that he is forgiving that sin and all other sins.

So, don't let the regret of past failures drag you down into condemnation. Rather, use past failures as motivation to future successes in Christ Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who will work through you in the future to accomplish this. God believes in you and He will work in you towards these future successes if you will ask him. Jesus is your hope! Run towards that hope and He will work out these things for you!

God bless!

Brent

[LizMusica]

okay thank you, I guess that makes sence. I can't imagine those that I have failed to reach will cause me to lose my or anybody's salvation. Although its a scarry thought relizing their blood will be on your hands. Not meaning that you will take their spot in hell... but that you will have to give an account. Makes sence, but will God be judgeing us about those issues when we get to heaven? Isn't he going to reward us for the good things we have done, but the bad things won't be rememberd? How does it work? Maybe not, maybe we will feel great sorrow and pain, relizing those we should have reached are gone and that we failed.:redface

earlyer I felt a big heaviness of heart for those that I can't hardly reach but need the truth reached to them.:(: I can't imagine how it will be when we get to heaven and its too late. I'm sure their will be amazing heightend joy:clap but some how their will be a time of sorrow.:confused

Blessings

[FrankDH]

I am having trouble with this passage on Ezekiel 33. Is this talking about those who fail to tell others about Jesus, they will be responsible for not warning them and in return they are not saved and end up in hell, or are we still saved yet we hold this burden of not telling them about the gospel, and what is to come in the future?

Trying to understand what the passage is saying:redface I know I have held back unfortunetly when I could have told them the truth...

what are you thoughts?

Ezekiel was sent to minister to Israel. This is a shepherds warning. There are special responsibilities and judgments for those who are called to lead a flock. It is not speaking of the general witness of the believer, IMO.

[newname]

There are special responsibilities and judgments for those who are called to lead a flock.

Cool point, Frank! : )


God bless!

Brent