Truthful news by one is better than artificially sweetened news by majority
Therefore do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon.” For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you out, and you will perish. But the nations that bring their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let them remain in their own land,’ says the Lord, ‘and they shall till it and dwell in it.’ Jeremiah 27: 9-11
Jeremiah, a true prophet of God, was in minority for giving bad news to the Israelites. The false prophets were giving deceptive encouragement to the people of God. They told them that their captivity wasn’t going to last because they were God’s special people. However, Jeremiah gave them the bad news (but truthful news) that God was keeping them in captivity for a long season.
Who would we rather listen to? Some people enjoy having their ears tickled with what they want to hear. They don’t want to be encumbered by difficult news or something that will require work from them.
For example, nowadays, the message of “cheap grace” has become popular amongst some Christian circles, and it is drawing multitudes to churches. The so called “gracious” preachers are feeding people heavily sugar-coated half truth and keeping people comfortable.
“Cheap grace” messages will lead individuals back to bondage and destruction if they choose to follow it. These sermons don’t demand or require growth on the part of the believer, and they keep one’s faith in an infantile stage. The message of “cheap grace” surely sounds a lot gentler and more beautiful than the message of “take up your cross and follow me!”. These “happy and light” messages will not produce the character and the righteousness of God in a believer’s life neither will they challenge a believer to represent Christ well.
Are we willing to follow the truth no matter what the cost is? Are we willing to share the truth regardless of how popular or unpopular it becomes?
The voice of majority may win for a moment, but the consequences of the decisions made by majority will provide the ultimate report card!
If you were Jeremiah, would you have doubted that you heard God correctly in the light of so many prophets contradicting your message? Would you have been tempted to artificially sweeten the message, so you won’t be the odd one out? Or would you have been able to speak up and share bitter news while all the other high powered prophets had artificially sweetened news for people?