Honesty is the loving way, the right thing to do. Paul calls it speaking the truth in love. If a preacher fails here, he fails entirely. We must tell it like it is. That does not mean being insensitive but it does mean preaching sin and death and hell in biblical proportion. It may not be the way to universal popularity but it is the loving way. Horatius Bonar quotes Rowland Hill. in his Words to winners of souls, "Rash preaching disgusts; timid preaching leaves poor souls fast asleep; bold preaching is the only preaching that is owned of God."
Philip Jensen preaching on the need for boldness has said
We are still in spiritual need of prayer, to preach the gospel fearlessly with boldness. The same fears of shame and persecution, of put-down and ridicule, are there in me and in you as they were in the apostle in chains. So we need to pray for one another - and I need you to pray for me - that we may speak the mystery of the gospel fearlessly as we ought.The same attitude should be in all preachers.
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