Never fear to say what Jesus would say.

When apostasy abounds the prophet becomes obvious. He becomes conspicuous because he dares to challenge the prevailng trends and fads

He sticks out like a sore thumb. So, many call him a sore head. They fail to realize that he "cannot but speak the things which (he) has seen and heard." Acts 4:20. They also fail to realize that many a prophet is a reluctant prophet, finding his message as hard to deliver as the people find it to accept it.

The life of a prophet is a lonely life because he is a "voice crying in the wilderness." He sees the issues of right and wrong and hypocrisy in bolder relief, more acutely, than anyone else. Consequently, most view him as a kill-joy extremeist.

So be it. The world and the church both still need the prophetic voice. Without the prophetic voice the sin of kings goes unchecked. The worldiness of the church goes unrebuked.

O Lord, make me a prophet,
And yet a prophet meek
For many men are cowards
And daring not to speak.

They would not damn a demon
Or ever raise their voice.
They are the spineless hoi polloi
And no-accounts by choice.

- D. Atkinson