“Woe to Those . . .

“Woe to Those . . .

who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isa. 5:20.

1) For example, birth control. It is hostile to life. It is one hundred percent self-love. People want to enjoy themselves, but they do not want to contribute anything. Now this dreadful ungodliness is so nicely explained as an exalted virtue. How ironic! No effort! Money-saving! No risk! No sacrifice. It is anti-Christian. The very opposite of God’s Word!

2) Sectarianism! Denominationalism! This is also explained as being something noble and good, useful and necessary. It is even explained in such a way that one denomination is one member of the body of Christ and other denominations are other members. In other words, as these denominations divide further, the body of Christ acquires several more members! What impertinence! What outrageous foolishness!

Dissensions—the forming of various denominations—are works of the flesh. Gal. 5:20. This means that they are manifest sins. They glory in their shame! They actually call evil good. They glorify sin and ungodliness! Breaking God’s Word and law become noble, good, necessary, and timely virtues. Sin is put on the throne!

Now we need wholehearted, faithful, and zealous men of God, of unflinching courage, who can stand in the gap and stop this flood of ungodliness!

3) And what about chastening, the discipline and chastening of adults in the church? The Scriptures speak as one about the necessity of correction! However, now people have become so humane, understanding, and wise that they have concluded that correction is something old-fashioned that only causes harm!

People reject God’s Word and thereby also God, putting their human reasoning and understanding on the throne. Thus they become gods themselves without actually realizing it! They don’t only call evil good; they even judge God and His Word to be foolish! They exalt themselves over God! This is a great virtue in their eyes.

Hebrews 12 and several other scriptures speak with the utmost, unmistakable clarity! We have a particularly good exhortation in Peter, an exhortation to everyone who speaks in the church: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1 Pet. 4:11. This is the only thing that is permissible and useful!

4) Of course, this modern, humane, considerate, feeble, extremely conceited spirit that dominates most people in these days has decided that no one can be lost, not even Satan. According to their own fantasy they have discovered—contrary to God’s unmistakable Word—that after they die, everyone will be saved and blessed.

This is what their human reasoning and feelings tell them with the utmost certainty. And this is their highest and last resort of appeal! Prophets and apostles and all the saints, even God Himself must bow in the dust before it!

If people would just keep to this word from Peter, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God,” they would be completely saved and preserved from all such outrageous madness! Such pitiable wretches who do not even have victory over sin! They occupy themselves with deciding that God who is love cannot allow anyone to be lost. They define what genuine love is for God! They want to instruct both God and people in it!

This is truly fertile soil for the Antichrist, who will both exalt himself over everything that is called God and that is worshiped, showing himself that he is God. 2 Thess. 2:4.

Hell: “Does not die . . . and is not quenched,” (Mark 9:48) is interpreted to mean: does not die before a certain time, is not quenched before a certain time! “But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.” Matt. 10:28.

To whom and to what shall we take heed? There is a wide variety of wills. Whose will ought to be done? God’s will, of course! Whom shall we please and satisfy? God! We must deny both our own and other people’s desires and wills in order to carry out His will!

We must choose one of the two because God’s desire and will strongly resist the desires and the will of man! “But, of course, we must take it into consideration . . .”?! Yes, we must consider God, we must consider the Word! The rest can take care of itself!

“Let goods and kindred go [everything] . . . God’s truth abideth still.”1