More Preaching Faithfully

Jeremiah 26:7-16
(7) The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
(8) And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die!
(9) Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant'?" And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
(10) When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the LORD.
(11) Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, "This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."
(12) Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.
(13) Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.
(14) But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.
(15) Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."
(16) Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."

Verse 11 really hits me. Basically, they wanted to kill Jeremiah because they didn't like what he had to say. It didn't matter if he had a true word from the Lord or not. They just didn't like it, so they wanted to kill him.

While I don't think too many preachers face death in America today, they do face this kind of pressure. How many preachers today are afraid of saying something that might offend one of the families who give a lot to the church (I was going to write generously, but sometimes it isn't about generous)?

Of course, this is easy for me to write here in the comfort of my house with part of a MDiv completed. I do hope that I will be faithful to teach truth if I do get a pulpit. The Word of God is naturally offensive to us at places. Let's not avoid those.