is attitude: "This is my opinion of things. You may take it or let
it alone, just as you please; you have a right to your own opinions about
it." And there are a great many people who act upon this idea. They feel
that they can take a thing or let it alone, just as they please--even when
the words preached are the judgments of God. Many hold that attitude not
only toward preaching but toward the Bible also. They read, or hear read,
what it says about worldliness, foolish actions and conversation, the
wearing of gold for adornment; they read about being patient and holy and
blameless, about not returning evil for evil, and about speaking evil of
no man; yet they go right on doing the things forbidden, just as though
the Book said nothing. They do not take it to heart. The trouble is, the
connections between their ears and their hearts are broken as far as these
things of God are concerned.

The Bible warns us to take heed how we hear. If we do not treat the
preaching of God's Word reverently, and listen with reverent hearts to his
messages, it is because we do not reverence him. It is because in our
hearts we are lifted up against him. That attitude of "I shall take or
leave alone, just as I please" is one of the very worst attitudes that can
be held. Not only is it dishonoring to God, but it is exceedingly
dangerous.

Sometimes such an attitude of heart is partly, at least, the result of the
way the preacher preaches. If a man has a message from God, he has
authority to preach that message as the word of God, and he should so
preach it. Every true gospel preacher should be imbued with the feeling:
"I am preaching the truth of God. It is your duty to hear it; I expect you
to hear it; and hear it you must." Let him hold this attitude in his heart
and mind, and then let him enforce upon his congregation by proper
disciplinary methods the truth that he preaches. If the preacher feels his
authority as God's spokesman as he ought to feel it, the people will be
impressed--they can not help it. It is true that they may rebel, grow
stubborn, or disobey; they may shut his words out from their hearts; but
nevertheless he is clear, and they only increase their responsibility, of
which they must give an account to God. Paul believed that preaching and
teaching should be with "all authority." This does not imply mere human
rule, but divine authority--God speaking through the man.

When the heart does not hear and feel, there is alwa