Cruel Kindness
Scripture Reading: Lamentations 2:14
In Lamentations, we hear the grieving heart of the prophet Jeremiah as he mourns over his people who are undergoing the judgment of God. They had been warned repeatedly that trouble from the Lord was coming. They were told to repent. God had extended his hand of grace through prophets like Jeremiah, only to have it slapped away by the recalcitrant people of Judah.
The true prophets of God like Jeremiah weren’t the only prophets in that day. There were others. They too had visions and oracles. They were false and misleading. They were being “kind” to the people and princes by telling them it was all going to be just fine. They were God’s people, after all, and God certainly wouldn’t destroy them, and he surely would not use a pagan nation to punish them.
A sure sign of a false prophet/teacher is one who refuses to confront people with their sins. Jeremiah says, “They have not exposed your iniquity.” Sure, it is more comfortable to listen to a “positive” message all the time. It feels good to be told how great you are. No one wants to have their sin and iniquity exposed and confronted.
These prophets were like doctors who won’t tell their patients they have a serious disease because they don’t want to upset them. They would rather have them feel good than be healthy and seek healing. If you listen to someone who never points out what is wrong, you are probably listening to someone who is leading you with lies.
To put the best possible spin on their motives, maybe they think they are being kind by not upsetting you about your sin. But this is the cruelest type of kindness. It keeps you from finding the spiritual healing you need.
