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My Dear Friend,

As we read the sad story of Herod Antipas' interaction with the brave prophet John the Baptist, we are aghast. How could anyone be so wicked as to sever this good man’s head from his body? But let’s think again.

You may be more aghast to discover that Herod may be just like a number of people attending your church come next Sunday morning. No, I’m not on drugs, or drunk, nor do I yet need psychological evaluation. I’m just paying close attention to the Biblical text. Join me now in a brief comparative analysis of Herod and carnal Christians.

Mark tells us most about Herod Antipas. (See Mark 6:14-29.) Herod “feared,” or stood in awe of, “John,” knowing he was “a righteous man, and holy” (Mark 6:14 19). So, he recognized John as a separated, authorized spokesman of God - no wandering magician, wannabe rabbi, priestly imposter, or pseudo-prophet, but the real thing. John was genuine, called, anointed, sent!

Many saved-yet-carnal Christians recognize a true minister when they hear him (or her). Like Herod, they recognize the ring of authority in their voice, the unquestionable biblicality of their messages, and the conviction that comes on them when such ministers speak, or counsel, or write. So, they have a holy respect, or “fear” for them.

Mark also says Herod liked to hear John preach. He “heard him,” not sadly, but “gladly” (Mark 6:14 20). So, there was something in Herod that agreed with divine truth when he heard it. And he always felt better after hearing John preach. We know this because we, too, are always uplifted emotionally and spiritually whenever, wherever, and through whoever we hear God’s Word “gladly.”

Many carnal Christians also enjoy preaching. They like church meetings, come fairly regularly, and usually leave feeling good. Why? They know they’ve heard God’s Word. The message was from the Bible and spoken by a genuine minister of Christ. Therefore, they feel they have discharged their reasonable responsibility toward God. Surely, He’s pleased with them. Why? They’ve listened to His Word.

And Herod did even more. Mark adds, Herod “did many things” (Mark 6:14 20), or “did much of what he said” (Young’s Literal Translation). (Some modern versions translate the Greek here differently, but the context confirms “did many things” is indeed a correct translation.) So, Herod responded to much of John’s highly corrective, intensely practical preaching (see Luke 3:10-14, 18). This is amazing. Herod - the ruler of Galilee - obeyed corrections posed to him by an uncredentialled wilderness holy man? Yes, that’s exactly what the text says.

Many carnal Christians, upon hearing preaching, teaching, or counsel they like, immediately implement changes in their lives. Like Herod, they respond, they amend their ways, they “do many things.” They look like promising disciples of Christ . . . as long as this obedience doesn’t cost them any serious disruption, friends, or loss of respect by family or neighbors.

But, tellingly, Mark omits any mention of Herod obeying the key issue over which John repeatedly challenged him: “John had been telling Herod, It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:14 18, NLT). And this omission is so loud it’s deafening; I’m having to hold my ears! Herod obeyed God’s Word when it suited him, and changed in many ways, but when it came to the real central sin that was degrading his life and damning his soul, he simply wouldn’t budge. Not an inch. Not a second. Not a chance!

Similarly, many carnal Christians know well (and sometimes others do too) exactly what sin is eating them alive: hatred, unforgiveness, pride, envy, jealousy, greed, lust, lying, complaining, pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, an invalid marriage, wrongful divorce and remarriage, and so forth. But Bible or not, man of God or not, even John the Baptist or not, they will not budge!

Tragically, they reason that they have been living in sin for some time now and have not yet been struck by a lightning bolt, crushed by a boulder, or pierced by an arrow shot at a venture. So, they plan to maintain the status quo. They’re quite content to be “hearers only” and not “doers” of God’s Word (James 1:22-25). Why change when they’re not in danger. Besides, as many are being told weekly, God’s grace automatically covers all sin anyway, right? Or so they think.

But then, one day, one “convenient day” (Mark 6:14 21), all this quickly changed. God brought Herod to judgment. Events unforeseen overtook him, and his sin suddenly arose to ruin him before he had time to carefully plan how he could keep sinning yet avoid God’s punishment. You know the story. The old king, stirred to lust by his step-daughter’s erotic dancing, promised her “whatever” she wanted. She asked her mother, her mother asked for John’s head, and Herod, to save his word, complied. From that moment, his life was over. His body kept breathing, talking, and walking, but his soul dropped dead.

Oswald Chambers noted that, in killing John, Herod silenced the voice of God in his life, and this explains why when Jesus later stood before Herod, He “answered him nothing” (Luke 23:8-9). God had already spoken to Herod about his sin many times, and he had silenced God. So, God’s Son responded with silence. Because he would not hear God, God would not hear him (see 1 John 5:16b).

Like Herod, many a carnal Christian does not believe his unconfessed, unforsaken sin (practiced or willfully continued sin) will one day find him out. But the “convenient day” for this lies ahead, as surely as it did for Herod. And in a moment, their carefree indulgence in sin will turn their whole life on its head and entrap them in the righteous judgment of God. And in that day, prayer itself will not reverse God’s judgment, nor restore the sweet sound of His comforting voice. (Please thoughtfully read Proverbs 1:24-33.) Why?

In one of many ways, they silenced the loving, corrective voice of God! Perhaps they left a church because they kept hearing God’s correction there, and finally had enough. Or, they slandered the minister that spoke it. Or, they joined with other carnal Christians in voting him out of the pulpit.

That’s the sad truth in many lives today. Believe it or not, considering how God’s marriage and divorce regulations have been ignored now for decades, and how many churchgoing couples today are living together unmarried, you may easily have multiple “Herods” and “Herodiases” sitting in your congregation come this Sunday. But that’s not the real heart of this message.

You and I may have an old, incorrigible “Herod” attitude living inside of us. We may listen to and read God’s Word “gladly” and do “many things” in the way of biblical obedience, all while holding tightly to one stubborn stronghold of sin that we just won’t let go of! Thus, we are “hearers” and “not doers” of God’s Word, as Herod was. And we may be in danger of an unforeseen “convenient day” when some quickly unfolding sequence of events leads us to silence the corrective voice of God in our lives. Yes, we can go too far in abusing God’s amazing grace (1 John 5:16b).

So, let’s wrap this up in two sentences. First, if you know someone living a “Herod” life in your circle of close contacts, pray for wisdom, grace, and strength, and go courageously speak the truth in love to them. Second, if you recognize you have a “Herod” in you, today, while you can still hear God’s voice, do the Word of God that really counts in your life, the central besetting sin and major issue over which God has repeatedly corrected you, before sin does you in and renders your life of no account to God. And may we have Herod in our midst no more.

Yes, it’s time for this,