Preaching in the open air can be a frightening experience. It is frightening to stand out in front of others looking like a psycho to those walking along. People look at you with all sort of disdainful looks. Girls pass by laughing. Young men screech out inappropriate jokes. Older folks just walk by nodding their head. All this can be embarrassing. However, what is most unnerving is when you preach those passages of Scripture that are the most disagreeable with the culture.

The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says.”

2 Chronicles 18:13-14

Preach through Romans 1:18-25 or 1 Cor. 6:9-10 where the Bible explicitly calls homosexuality a sin and watch the anger skyrocket in any crowd in our post-modern culture. You might be called a judgmental bigot or receive a second finger salute. Preach John 14:6 Where Jesus explicitly says he is the only way to be saved and you may be called a closed-minded idiot. Preach Matthew 7:21-24 where Jesus makes it clear He will send false converts to hell and you will be accused of hate speech.

Many believe they have Jesus all figured out. That Jesus is some kind of super cool dude who just loves people the way they are. That he is neither Holy nor does he demand holiness of others. However, once you put the words of our Savior in the face of this politically correct culture you will see those same people cringe with disdain for our risen King. The world does not like Jesus, they hate Him and His word. They also hate those who preach the word.

Take heart and do not be discouraged in these dark times. Do not covet the false teachers who bend scripture to fit the desires of sinful men. Do not covet those who preach to be loved by the wicked. Know that they have received their reward. Jesus Christ told us, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Do not be discouraged. We have a duty before God to proclaim the word of God just as the prophets of old. Just as the apostles preached the word. Just as Christ preached the word. All the power for our ministry is found in the word of God. Thus we should let the word of God loose to do the Lion work God intends for it to do.

Move onward and keep preaching the word of God. Endure suffering, trust in God, and look unto Christ. He will prevail!

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants^[ for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6