For 1,000 years Constantinople was the Byzantine capital of the Eastern Roman Empire with Christianity as the dominant religion from the fourth century onward. Beginning in 1453, all that changed for the next 500 years.

Mehmed II laid siege to the city in order to make it the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which at its height stretched from the Danube to the Euphrates Rivers. (The Ottoman Empire lasted until World War I.) Mehmed II ended the siege by taking his navy and enormous bronze cannons overland to bypass chains across the mouth of the city’s harbor. He then bombarded the city from the inner harbor. On May 29, 1453, the walls were breached and Ottoman soldiers poured into Constantinople, subjugating the local Christian and Jewish populations.

With the fabric of society tearing apart many seem occupied with myopic debates.

A story from that time tells how Christian scholars in the besieged city (within days of becoming Muslim) were preoccupied with the following theological questions:

* What color were the virgin Mary’s eyes?
* If a fly falls into holy water, is the water defiled or the fly sanctified?

Whether the story is apocryphal or not, it’s an unsettling parallel to our times. With the fabric of society tearing apart, many seem occupied with similarly myopic debates.

Jeremiah’s and Ezekiel’s common problems are ours too

Jeremiah was called to preach God’s message in Jerusalem, while Ezekiel, 700 miles away in Babylon, did likewise. Jeremiah was told of the problems he’d encounter and that no matter what, he was to fulfill his calling. His immediate response quite lacked enthusiasm. Like Moses, he pleaded inadequacy, saying he was too young (Jeremiah 1:6-9 Jeremiah 1:6-9 [6] Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. [7] But the LORD said to me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you you shall speak. [8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, said the LORD. [9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
American King James Version×). He may have meant he was too young of a priest and felt inexperienced. Or it could have reflected his introspective nature and his feeling of personal inadequacy by temperament. God’s reply might be paraphrased, “Don’t you think I know what I’m doing in calling you? Don’t be afraid of the looks on their faces because I will give you the right words to say” (verses 7-8).

Although we are not called to be prophets, God does want us to be involved in and support His work. The main task Jesus has given His Church as a collective body is to proclaim to all nations that He will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to establish the literal Kingdom of God on earth and to explain how we may have a part in that Kingdom (Revelation 11:15 Revelation 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
American King James Version×; 17:14; 19:16).

And in that way, we, too, can feel overwhelmed by God’s calling and feel inadequate for the task of preaching the gospel. God anticipated negative reactions to preaching His truth. He told Jeremiah not to be dismayed about it. When we as a Church speak on God’s behalf, we can get discouraged at the lack of seriousness from others. Like Jeremiah, we, too, encounter people who say that the Church’s prophetic preaching has never yet come to pass (Jeremiah 20:10 Jeremiah 20:10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
American King James Version×; 2 Peter 3:4 2 Peter 3:4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
American King James Version×).

Jeremiah experienced a personal warning too—if he allowed unresponsive attitudes to deter him from doing the job, God would trouble Jeremiah before his detractors. God knew people would “fight against you” but He assured Jeremiah they would not succeed because God would be with him (Jeremiah 1:19 Jeremiah 1:19And they shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, said the LORD, to deliver you.
American King James Version×).

Ezekiel seemed to have a different personality, but he faced the same problems. In graphic language, God described his audience as a “rebellious nation…impudent and stubborn” (Ezekiel 2:3-4 Ezekiel 2:3-4 [3] And he said to me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even to this very day. [4] For they are impudent children and stiff hearted. I do send you to them; and you shall say to them, Thus said the Lord GOD.
American King James Version×). Whether they would listen, or whether they wouldn’t (because, after all, they were a rebellious people), Ezekiel was still to take God’s message to them (verse 5). God’s goal is that people who hear the Church’s message will in the future come to know we were delivering God’s message. Much of our effort may not bear fruit until later.

Thorns prick our skin and make us bleed. Scorpions sting with burning pain. In the same way, people’s words and looks can demoralize us psychologically and weaken our resolve.

Understanding how His human instruments can become discouraged, God sympathetically outlined to Ezekiel the people’s attitudes. This encouraged him, and it encourages us that though we may be hurt by resistance, and words and looks can make us afraid, we are not to be deterred from supporting the Church. We are told the general reaction to truth will be as from “briers, thorns…[and] scorpions” (verse 6) Thorns prick our skin and make us bleed. Scorpions sting with burning pain. In the same way, people’s words and looks can demoralize us psychologically and weaken our resolve.

God emphasizes that whether they hear or refuse, we as His Church are still to do the job and make sure we aren’t rebellious like them (Ezekiel 2:6-8 Ezekiel 2:6-8 [6] And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. [7] And you shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. [8] But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; Be not you rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat that I give you.
American King James Version×). In comforting Ezekiel, God further explains the reason they won’t listen to us is because they will not listen to Him. They are unreceptive because their nature is “impudent and stubborn” (Ezekiel 3:4 Ezekiel 3:4And he said to me, Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them.
American King James Version×). While preaching God’s truth, we must remember that many others will not listen because of insolent, hard hearts. As with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, a lack of response shouldn’t put us off. Dirty looks and hurtful words are to be expected from a rebellious nation whose attitude is likened to “briers, thorns and scorpions.”

Sadly, even family may at times hinder our support of the Church as it preaches the gospel message. In Jeremiah’s case, close family, probably embarrassed before friends by what he was saying, enlisted others to deter his public preaching (Jeremiah 12:6 Jeremiah 12:6For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, they have called a multitude after you: believe them not, though they speak fair words to you.
American King James Version×). Today we can have similar difficulty with unbelieving relatives. Perhaps we err in fulfilling our mission by a desire to placate others when we should step out in faith and stand for truth.

Yet amidst a rebellious people there is hope

God explains to Ezekiel that many have eyes that can’t see and ears that won’t hear. Nevertheless, God tells him, he should go ahead and preach, as “it may be that they will consider” (Ezekiel 12:2-3 Ezekiel 12:2-3 [2] Son of man, you dwell in the middle of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. [3] Therefore, you son of man, prepare you stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
American King James Version×, emphasis added). This is very comforting. It makes our efforts worthwhile when just one person responds to God’s calling. Ezekiel would become a “sign” later in captivity when they realized the words he had spoken had come to pass (verse 6). Only at a later time would they come to know a prophet of God had been among them (Ezekiel 33:31-33 Ezekiel 33:31-33 [31] And they come to you as the people comes, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness. [32] And, see, you are to them as a very lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear your words, but they do them not. [33] And when this comes to pass, (see, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.
American King James Version×).

God says that a lack of response has to do with complacent attitudes and people thinking there is no urgency. They say, “The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off” (verses 25-27). The task of the prophets was to be accomplished whether people listened or not. We as well, as God’s people, have a collective responsibility to take God’s message to the world even if most ignore it.

Yet despite our knowing these things, a lack of growth in the Church can make us feel we aren’t achieving much. Elijah felt this, which puts us in great company! It seems strange that after spectacular miracles from God and the execution of the priests of Baal, Elijah would run away in fear after a death threat the next day from Jezebel (1 Kings 18-19). She had been trying to kill him for years. But stress can become the last straw that emotionally breaks our backs, and Elijah fled.

Perhaps we err in fulfilling our mission by a desire to placate others when we should step out in faith and stand for truth.

God then fed and strengthened him and informed him of something he didn’t realize. There were 7,000 others who had not bowed to Baal nor kissed the idol. Elijah probably didn’t know of these people. When the paganism of Ahab and Jezebel reigned supreme, God-fearing people quietly hid themselves from Baal worship. This expansive illustration of people who remain faithful to God’s covenant was used by Paul about a remnant in Israel in Romans 11:1-5 Romans 11:1-5 [1] I say then, Has God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God has not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture said of Elias? how he makes intercession to God against Israel saying, [3] Lord, they have killed your prophets, and dig down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] But what said the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
American King James Version×. The lesson for us is that God is working in the lives of many more people than we are aware of.

What of New Testament times?

Although Justus, Crispus and many others believed and were baptized through Paul’s preaching in Corinth, Paul became discouraged at stubborn attitudes against him. It deterred him enough to plan to leave Corinth and go elsewhere (Acts 18:6-11 Acts 18:6-11 [6] And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean; from now on I will go to the Gentiles. [7] And he departed there, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. [8] And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. [9] Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace: [10] For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you: for I have much people in this city. [11] And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
American King James Version×). Paul concluded his work there was over. God knew better. Because Paul was determined to leave, God gave him a vision one night, essentially saying: “I have many people in this city. So don’t be afraid, no one will attack you, and I will be with you.” Paul obediently stayed another 18 months. We can likewise be shortsighted and demoralized by resistance to our efforts.

Society forever rots around us. Can we afford to idly sit back and let darkness overtake us?

As John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ’s first coming, so, too, Christ’s Church prepares the way for His second coming (Mark 1:2-4 Mark 1:2-4 [2] As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you. [3] The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [4] John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
American King James Version×). We have a commission and obligation to preach the gospel. Paul expressed his role this way: “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me” (1 Corinthians 9:16-17 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 [16] For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid on me; yes, woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel! [17] For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me.
American King James Version×, New International Version). Paul knew it was essential that the gospel be made available, and he was wholeheartedly committed to that task. He asked how anyone could hear the truth unless there are those who make it known (Romans 10:14-17 Romans 10:14-17 [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias said, Lord, who has believed our report? [17] So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
American King James Version×).

If we sit back uninvolved, how will the people who could be reached through our efforts ever hear? Christ was busy with His Father’s work when He was on earth. He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4 John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work.
American King James Version×). Society forever rots around us. Can we afford to idly sit back and let darkness overtake us? Obey God’s laws and practice God’s way of life as a light to your neighbors, friends and family. Pray for the work of the Church. Have the courage and heart for the gospel. Be involved in sowing the seed!