“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:1 KJV)

“For the land is full of adulterers; for because of a curse the land mourns. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up. Their course of life is evil, and their might is not right. “For both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:10-11)

In these verses, and throughout chapter 23, the prophet Jeremiah reveals that the curse that was upon them was the result of sin and living a life that is contrary to the word of God.

What calls our attention throughout this chapter is that God’s wrath is against false pastors: those who have corrupted themselves, betrayed their wives and family members, and distorted God’s word by altering it in such a way as to serve their own interests.

Pastors and priests who should have been living in holiness and in the discipline of God’s law, allowed themselves to become contaminated. Spiritual decay infected those who should have been the bearers of faithful, divine messages and work to add quality to people’s faith.

They led people down the wrong path with lies, destroying them spiritually and diverting them from the path of righteousness.

“Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.” (Jeremiah 23:14)

Today, in several countries, the number of evangelicals has grown exponentially. 50 years ago in Brazil, evangelicals represented 2% to 3% of the population. Today, we make up more than 30%, and it is believed that Brazil will be mostly evangelical in a few years.

Although we are happy, we immediately become concerned. What is the use of there being a large percentage of us, but only having a small number of people who have a communion with God?

We have to work to change quantity into quality, which will only be possible through the new birth and the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Eduardo Bravo