Ezekiel 3:17 Watchman

I heard an interesting sermon by a Korean pastor this past Sunday on Ezekiel 3:17-21. A parallel passage is Ezekiel 33:1-9. He basically said that Christians are watchmen, and if a Christian fails to witness to a lost person, then the lost person may go to hell because possibly no one else will witness to him, and the Christian who missed the opportunity to witness would be held responsible for him. I guess this misapplication of the passage is pretty common, but it’s popular because guilt motivates (at least temporarily). I heard about a case in America where a Christian man actually believed this, and he had a nervous breakdown because he literally could not relax or go to sleep at night. Instead of sleeping he would go to public places such as Laundromats and parks because he thought he might be the only one who would ever witness to certain people and give them a chance to be saved. He did not want anyone to go to hell because of his missing an opportunity to witness. The man unfortunately did not understand that God does not expect Christians to share the gospel in every spare moment. God wants them to have balance in their spiritual lives. Unfortunately, many Christians go to the other extreme and do not place enough emphasis on personal evangelism. Christians should have as their ambition, “whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9), and they should seek to be obedient to God’s great commission to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them. Their motivation for witnessing should be obedience and the joy of being used by God, not taking credit for saving someone or avoiding the blame for not saving someone.

A couple of obvious problems with the common misapplication of the passage occur to me:

1. If a person goes to hell because I fail to share the gospel with him, then he has a legitimate excuse. It would be at least partially my fault that he went to hell, not totally his own fault. We know that those who go to hell have no legitimate excuses.
2. If a person goes to heaven because only I would share the gospel with him, then I have become his partial savior. He could approach me in heaven and tell me that if it weren’t for my witness, he would be in hell. We know that God would find someone else or something else (such as a Bible or tract) to witness to an elect person if I am disobedient, and thus all the glory belongs to Him.

I’d like to get your opinions and comments on whether and how this passage can be applied to us. Here are some options:


1. The passage cannot be applied to Christians today.
2. The passage can be applied to church leaders today. A church leader is responsible in some sense for the Christians placed under his care after they are permanently saved. Hebrews 13:17a is relevant: “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account.” Church leaders are not responsible for the salvation of church members, but they are responsible for the discipline, overseeing, and shepherding of church members (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-3).
3. The passage can be indirectly applied to all Christians. A person does not go to hell because of a particular Christian’s failure to witness to him, but God will sometimes discipline a Christian for disobedience in the matter of witnessing.
4. The passage can be directly applied to all Christians. If a Christian fails to witness to a particular non-Christian that later dies without receiving a witness and goes to hell, then the Christian is to some degree held responsible.
5. Both number 2 and number 3 are true.
6. Other

 

Bob, I agree with you that the great commission is for all Christians, not just for Christian leaders. You mentioned John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” The verb “love” is the verse is present, active, subjunctive. The Greek reads, “Ean agapate me,” for “if you love me.” A.T. Robertson commented on the verse:

http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/RobertsonsWordPictures/rwp.cgi?book=joh&chapter=14&verse=15

Huber Drumwright described this usage:

Drumwright, An Introduction to New Testament Greek (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1980), page 127.

Drumwright described the third class condition:

Ibid., page 128.

Brooks and Winbery described the subjunctive:

Brooks and Winbery, Syntax of New Testament Greek (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1979), page 118.

Vaughan and Gideon described the subjunctive:

Vaughan and Gideon, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1979), page 102.

Thus, John 14:15 is not saying that we will always be obedient to the great commission. Sometimes we are disobedient. Our disobedience, however, will not cause someone to go to hell. We should always try to be obedient. Last night, two Korean Mormon girls came to the door of my apartment. I invited them in and tried to lovingly explain the Trinity and salvation by grace. If I had slammed the door in their faces, I don’t think I would have condemned them to hell by doing so. God might, however, have severely punished me (disciplined me) for my disobedience to the great commission.

 

Bob, I'm not sure where you're going with this. I don't reject any Scripture, OT or NT. The issues with Ezekiel 3 relate to interpretation and application. In other words, what does the passage really mean, and how does it apply to us? I think both of us agree that all Scripture is inerrant. I assume, however, that we do not agree about the interpretation and application of this particular passage. Perhaps it will clarify things if you will interpret and apply the passage. I will then react and explain how my interpretation and application differ from yours.

 

Ray, I think Ezekiel was called to warn the Israelites of impending physical judgment from God. The righteous man mentioned in 3:20 physically dies for his sin, but he does not lose his salvation. Wicked men who die in their sin suffer both physical and spiritual judgment, but Ezekiel would be punished if he failed to warn them for impending physical judgment. Notice in the parallel passage, Ezekiel 33:1-9, that a “sword” is coming upon the land. This is a reference to physical judgment. Remember that in Ezekiel 5:1-2 that Ezekiel was commanded to take a sword, cut his beard and the hair on his head, burn one-third, strike one-third with the sword, and scatter one-third to the wind. This is a clear reference to physical judgment. Here are some quotes that might help.

Lamar Cooper commented on Ezekiel:

Cooper, “Ezekiel,” The New American Commentary, vol. 17, 1994, pages 28-29.

DiAnna Paulk commented on Ezekiel 3:17-19:

http://www.path-light.com/Ezekiel02b.htm

http://www.solascriptura-tt.org/SoteriologiaESantificacao/CloserStudyPassagesSomeUseToTeachLossSalvation-Pipers.htm

Quotes from Thomas L. Constable on Ezekiel:

http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/ezekiel.pdf

It's bedtime in South Korea.

 

ILUVLIGHT, you said the following:

The same Greek present middle participle is used in Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 24. It is a present middle participle of the verb “hegomai.” Notice what the author of Hebrews says in each verse:

Hebrews 13:7 – “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Hebrews 13:24 – “Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.”

The Greek scholar A.T. Robertson commented on 13:7:

http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/RobertsonsWordPictures/rwp.cgi?book=heb&chapter=13&verse=7

Notice 1 Timothy 5:17:

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

 

ILUVLIGHT, I agree that as Christians we only have one ultimate master. Pastors (elders) serve as "undershepherds" while Jesus is our ultimate Shepherd. Elders are told to "shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight" but not "lord it over those allotted to your charge" while Jesus is called the "Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:1-4). Another example: Christian children can obey their parents while being in ultimate submission to God.

 

Bob, I agree with you that the OT was the Scripture for the NT saints. I didn’t vote for the first option. I also agree with you that in some sense all Christians are called to be witnesses.

 

ILUVLIGHT, I think we have to distinguish between leadership and dictatorship. The Greek word used for "rule" in 1 Timothy 5:17 is "proistemi." In the NASV it is translated as "leads" in Romans 12:8, as "have charge" in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, and as "manage" in 1 Timothy 3:4,5,12. So, the husband/father is to manage or lead his household well. That doesn't mean he is to be like a totalitarian dictator who treats his wife and kids like doormats. Biblical leadership is essential for the local church and family alike. If the local church or family has no leadership, it is in trouble. There are checks and balances if the leader misuses his position in the church. He can be quickly removed from his leadership position by the other church members. The Pope's position in the Roman Catholic Church is very different from the pastor's position in the local church.