Refusing to Preach and Revelation Cowards
Refusing to hear God's words and walking in stubbornness is depicted in Jeremiah as making one "good for nothing" [3]. This refusal can manifest as a deliberate turning away from truth, as seen in Titus's warning against giving heed to "commandments of men who are turning away from the truth" [4]. Such a disposition is characterized by a hatred of knowledge and a rejection of the fear of Yahweh, as noted in Proverbs [1]. The prophet Zechariah describes those who "refuse to attend" and make their "ears have made heavy against hearing" [2].
The concept of refusing to hear or obey divine instruction is explored in various theological traditions. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, discusses the refusal of the reprobate to obey God's word, attributing it to the "malice and depravity of their hearts" [11]. He also notes that when the wicked face calamity, they may lament the loss of God's assistance rather than truly implore it, as seen in the prophet's denunciation, "They cried, and I would not hear" [14]. Calvin further argues that the human mind often resists doctrines like predestination, boiling and raging "as if aroused by the sound of a trumpet" [5]. He also addresses those who, like the Anabaptists, reject certain practices based on a literal interpretation of Christ's words, thereby "inconsiderately make a stumbling-stone of Christ, setting him in opposition to the Father" [7].
The early Church Fathers also addressed the issue of refusal and obstinacy. Ignatius, in a passage cited by Schaff, speaks of those who "abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer" because they do not confess the Eucharist to be the flesh of Christ, incurring "death in the midst of their disputes" [6]. Origen, also cited by Schaff, discusses the Savior's declaration that some will see and hear but not perceive or understand, "lest they should happen to be converted, and their sins be forgiven them" [13]. Athanasius of Alexandria, when accused of cowardice, suggests that his accusers' real grievance is his freedom, and that their reproaches are a "base device" to ensnare those they seek to destroy [9].
The book of Revelation speaks of "the fearful" as those who will not inherit the New Jerusalem [8]. John Gill interprets these "fearful" not as those who are merely timid in their faith, but as "cowardly spirits" who are not "valiant for the truth." These individuals, out of fear of men, either fail to profess Christ or abandon their profession when faced with tribulation and persecution [8]. They are described as being afraid of "the beast" and living in "servile bondage to him" [8].
Adam Clarke, commenting on Romans, describes those who "serve not our Lord Jesus" but rather "serve their own belly," intruding into the Church for "worldly gain alone" [12]. These individuals, he argues, have no divine credentials or unction, and instead "deceive the hearts of the simple by good words and fair speeches" [12].
The Catholic Church's Catechism emphasizes that God's revelation is a divine initiative where God "comes to meet man" [10]. This divine revelation is ultimately fulfilled in Christ Jesus, who is presented as the "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation" [10]. The refusal to accept this revelation, therefore, represents a rejection of God's self-disclosure.
Sources
- Proverbs “because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh. -- Proverbs 1:29”
- Zechariah “Zechariah 7:11 (YLT) — And they refuse to attend, And they give a refractory shoulder, And their ears have made heavy against hearing.”
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 13:10 (Rotherham) — This wicked people who are refusing to hear my words, who are walking in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods, to serve them and to bow down to them, yea let them be like this girdle, which is good for nothing.”
- Titus “Titus 1:14 (Rotherham) — Not giving heed to Judaical stories and commandments of men who are turning away from the truth:”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 78: of predestination to be preached, not passed over in silence. 14. How it is to be preached and delivered to the people. Summary of the orthodox doctrine of predestination, from Augustine. 1. The human mind, when it hears this doctrine, cannot restrain its petulance, but boils and rages as if aroused by the sound of a trumpet. Many professing a desire to defend the Deity from an invidious charge admit the doctrine of election, but deny that any one 2226 is reprobated (Bernard. in Die Ascensionis, Serm. 2). This they do ignorantly an”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. VII.--LET US STAND ALOOF FROM SUCH HERETICS.: They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer,(7) because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, incur death(11) in the midst of their disputes. But it were better for them to treat it with respect,(13) that they also might rise again. It is fitting, therefore, that ye should keep aloo”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 44: “when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself;” ( Heb. 6:16 , 13 ). 26. The Anabaptists, not content with this moderate use of oaths, condemn all, without exception, on the ground of our Saviour’s general prohibition, “I say unto you, Swear not at all:” “Let your speech be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil,” ( Mt. 5:34 ; James 5:12 ). In this way, they inconsiderately make a stumbling-stone of Christ, setting him in opposition to the Father, as if he ”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 21:8: But the fearful,.... Not the timorous sheep and lambs of Christ, the dear children of God, who are sometimes of a fearful heart, on account of sin, temptation, and unbelief; but such who are of cowardly spirits, and are not valiant for the truth, but who, through fear of men, either make no profession of Christ and his Gospel, or having made it, drop it, lest they should be exposed to tribulation and persecution; these are they that are afraid of the beast, and live in servile bondage to him. And unbelieving; meaning not merely atheists, who do not believe there”
- CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 313: 10. Their real grievance is not that Athanasius is a coward, but that he is free. Who then does not perceive their craftiness? Is it not very evident to every one that they do not reproach me with cowardice from regard to virtue, but that being athirst for blood, they employ these their base devices as nets, thinking thereby to catch those whom they seek to destroy? That such is their character is shewn by their actions, which have convicted them of possessing dispositions more savage than wild beasts, and more cruel than Babylon”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 24. (part 1): 24. 20 Cf. DV 3. 21 Dt 28: 10; Roman Missal, Good i Friday, General Intercession VI; see also Ex 19:6 22 Cf. Is 2:2-4; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 10:16 23 Cf. Ezek 36; Is 49:5-6; 53:11 24 Cf. Ezek 2:3; Lk 1:38 Previous - NextCopyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText HelpCatechism of the Catholic Church IntraText - TextPART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITHSECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MANArticle 1 THE REVELATION OF GODIII. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation"Pr”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: are turned to obedience, and others remain obdurate we must, in discussing it, pass to the passage from Moses, on which Paul has commented, namely, “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth,” ( Rom. 9:17 ). The refusal of the reprobate to obey the word of God when manifested to them, will be properly ascribed to the malice and depravity of their hearts, provided it be at the same time added that they were adjudged to this deprav”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 16:18: They - serve not our Lord Jesus - They profess to be apostles, but they are not apostles of Christ; they neither do his will, nor preach his doctrine; they serve their own belly - they hate intruded themselves into the Church of Christ that they might get a secular support; it is for worldly gain alone that they take up the profession of the ministry: they have no Divine credentials; they convert not the heathen nor the ungodly, for they have no Divine unction; but by good words and fair speeches (for they have no miraculous nor saving powers) deceive the hearts of”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — FROM THE LATIN.: 16. There is next brought before us that declaration uttered by the Saviour in the Gospel: "That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest they should happen to be converted, and their sins be forgiven them."[1] On which our opponent will remark: "If those who shall hear more distinctly are by all means to be corrected and converted, and converted in such a manner as to be worthy of receiving the remission of sins, and if it be not in their own power to hear the word ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: this in the application which is afterwards made of the example of Esau, who tried in vain, by crying and tears, to recover his lost birthright; nor in the denunciation of the Prophet, “They cried, and I would not hear.” Such modes of expression do not denote true conversion or calling upon God, but that anxiety with which the wicked, when in calamity, are compelled to see what they before securely disregarded—viz. that nothing can avail but the assistance of the Lord. This, however, they do not so much implore as lament the loss o”