How can church leaders today uphold the principles in Ezekiel 22:26? Setting the Context “Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they do not teach that there is a difference between the unclean and the clean. They shut their eyes to My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26) Core Principles Revealed • Uphold God’s law without compromise • Guard the boundary between what is holy and what is common • Teach God’s people the difference between clean and unclean • Honor the Lord’s appointed times and practices Practical Ways Leaders Can Live This Out Today 1. Love and Teach the Whole Counsel of God • Preach systematically through Scripture so nothing is skipped (Acts 20:27). • Handle the word “accurately” (2 Timothy 2:15), refusing to bend it to cultural pressure. • Encourage daily Bible intake among the flock (Psalm 1:2). 2. Model a Life of Visible Holiness • Personal purity: keep watch over heart, eyes, and conduct (1 Timothy 4:12). • Financial integrity: transparent stewardship of church funds (2 Corinthians 8:20-21). • Humble service: lead by washing feet, not by grasping power (Mark 10:42-45). 3. Draw Clear Lines Between Holy and Common • Guard the pulpit: only biblically qualified teachers (Titus 1:9). • Worship that exalts God rather than entertains (Psalm 29:2). • Church discipline practiced lovingly yet firmly (Matthew 18:15-17). 4. Teach the Difference Between Clean and Unclean • Address moral issues plainly—sex, marriage, life, truth (Leviticus 10:10-11; Hebrews 13:4). • Equip believers to spot counterfeit gospels (Galatians 1:8-9). • Offer biblical counseling that calls sin sin yet points to Christ’s cleansing (1 John 1:9). 5. Honor the Lord’s “Sabbaths” Today • Guard Sunday gatherings as a focused time for Word, prayer, fellowship, and the Table (Acts 2:42). • Encourage regular rest that trusts God rather than frantic busyness (Hebrews 4:9-11). • Reject commercialization of worship times; keep Christ central (John 2:16-17). 6. Confront Profanation Quickly • Address false teaching immediately (Malachi 2:7-8; Titus 1:10-11). • Publicly repent when leadership sins; restore credibility through transparency (James 5:16). • Keep accountability structures healthy—plurality of elders, external audits, member meetings. 7. Cultivate Awe for God’s Presence • Begin meetings with Scripture, not announcements, to center hearts on Him (Nehemiah 8:5-6). • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly, examining hearts (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). • Encourage corporate and private fasting to recalibrate affections (Matthew 6:16-18). Encouragement for Today’s Shepherds By faithfully distinguishing the holy from the common, teaching purity, honoring God’s rhythms, and guarding doctrine, leaders exalt the Lord instead of profaning Him. “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16). |
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