WHO MADE YOU GUARDIAN OF THE CHURCH?
 
Recently I received an email from a man who began by saying “Who made you guardian of the Church”?  He then went on to express his disapproval over some of my messages that deal with false doctrine in the church. His statement showed lack of Biblical knowledge, and unfortunately, that seems to be the norm for far too many believers. 
 
The answer to his question is really very simple. God made me and every single other minister of the Gospel a guardian of the Church. It is the responsibility of ministry to be a Watchman on the Wall, standing guard over the Sheep of which the Holy Spirit has given us charge and responsibility. This is made very clear to us in Ezekiel Chapter 33. To not warn people is to have their blood on our hands. 
 
Paul, in II Timothy Chapter 4:1-5, commanded Timothy to, “Preach the Word, reprove and rebuke”. Why such a strong command? Because of verse 3 and 4!  
 
 “The time shall come when they (the church) will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”. 
 
That is about as strong a command as one can give. It is always much easier and more pleasing to be only positive, and never take a stand. However, the Bible is not a book of diplomacy but a book of ultimatums. Sometimes, for the sake of the Sheep and our love of the Lord, a minister of the Gospel must stand up and proclaim, “Thus saith the Lord’! Also, if we, as ministers, say we love the sheep shouldn’t we tell them the truth when it comes to scriptural matters? As Charles H. Spurgeon said long ago, “I am called to feed the Sheep not amuse the Goats”!
 
So, in closing, let me state clearly and in no uncertain terms, I am a Guardian of the Church and whether or not you know it, all Christians are Guardians of the Church. This is what Jude meant when he said in Verse 3, “Ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the Saints”. In this passage, Jude stated that it is every Christian’s responsibility to be Guardians of the Church and Defenders of the Faith.
 
This is the musings and ramblings of a watchman.