I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. (Jeremiah 23:21-22)

The Lord used Jeremiah to condemn false prophets who only prophesied good things for the people of Judah and claimed to do so in His name and by His authority. King Zedekiah and his officials had consulted these prophets so as not to hear the condemnation and dire warnings that Jeremiah proclaimed. Jeremiah condemned the King and his advisers as false shepherds. Although God had put them in charge of His people, they did not know Him. They did not call the people of God to repentance.  

In our contemporary world there are many self-appointed prophets. Some prophesy only doom and gloom as punishment for the sins of mankind. However, the majority of these prognosticators do not believe in the God who has revealed Himself in Christ Jesus nor do they possess a worldview that is based on the Word of God. The sins for which they call humanity to account are social injustice and pollution of the environment. While these certainly need to be addressed, such modern prophets completely ignore the sins of idolatry, sexual immorality, and abortion as well as the greatest of the sins of mankind: rejection of Jesus Christ as the only offering for sin. 

And yet such prophets set themselves up as moral guides and arbiters. Although these should be faithful Christian clergy, teachers, and godly parents the truth is that millions value the advice that comes from these who do not know Christ. Many would rather trust in the pronouncements of politicians, teachers, scientists, celebrities, and talking heads who presume to dictate morality to the rest of us. If they know not Jesus, then their moralistic rhetorical utterances are worthless and should carry no weight with believers. 

And yet the same false message goes out from many churches. Many churches have caved in to the lies that come from the world. They want to attract people who do not want to be told they are sinners, or made to feel guilty. They do not want to be told they need to repent of sin, forsake idols, and be kind to others. 

Thus when we Christians preach the exclusive nature of salvation through faith in Jesus alone, when we testify to the sinful nature of all human beings, we are ridiculed and condemned. In spite of this, we Christians should stand fast against lies, wickedness and idolatry in the church as well as in the nation, media and culture. We are called to see that sinners are warned about the eternal destruction awaiting them and help them to realize that faith and mercy are available to them in Christ Jesus alone.