Many Christians want God’s blessings. Far fewer want His correction.
That was the central warning from Rabbi Kirt Schneider during a recent teaching on the tabernacle, where he challenged believers to confront what he called a growing resistance to conviction, repentance and spiritual discipline. Drawing from the brass laver described in Exodus, Schneider said modern believers often avoid the painful self-examination necessary for transformation.
“We need to be aware of what’s going on in our heart,” Schneider said. “What are the impulses that are arising from our heart? How are we relating to the world around us? Are we easily frustrated? And then when we get frustrated, we get angry. And then when we get angry, we hate or we judge people or we condemn people.”
Schneider explained that the brass laver, where Israel’s priests washed before entering deeper into God’s presence, was uniquely made from mirrors. That detail, he said, carries a prophetic message for believers today.
“What do we use a mirror for? We use a mirror to see what we look like,” Schneider said. “The brass laver is about cleansing.”
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As the priests looked into the water-filled basin and saw their reflections, Schneider said believers today must allow the Holy Spirit to expose areas of sin, selfishness and spiritual weakness.
“That if you and I are going to be cleansed, we need to see ourselves through the eyes of the Spirit,” he said.
Throughout the message, Schneider repeatedly warned against what he described as comfort-driven Christianity. He shared personal stories of conviction in his own life, admitting that even spiritual activities can sometimes become excuses for avoiding responsibility and service to others.
“But sometimes the Lord is saying, ‘No, that’s a sin for you just wanting to lay here because you love My Word so much when I’m putting something in front of you that I’m asking you to do,’” Schneider said. “Get off your couch, go spend time with your grandkids, go spend time with your wife.”
Schneider compared believers to soldiers who must abandon comfort in order to fulfill their mission.
“We need to have a mindset like a soldier,” he said. “They’ve got a mindset that they’re there to do a job, not to be comfortable in the world.”
He also warned that many Christians selectively listen to God, embracing encouragement while tuning out conviction.
“The Spirit’s speaking, but because He’s speaking to us about something that we’re uncomfortable about, or we’re too lazy to do something about, or it makes us uncomfortable because to obey the Spirit’s voice, it would stretch us out of our comfort zone, I wonder how many of us have shut Him out and we’re not listening,” Schneider said.
Despite the strong warning, Schneider emphasized that conviction is not condemnation but part of God’s process of transformation.
“Discipline is a good thing. It’s a blessing,” he said. “It allows us to grow. It allows us to repent. It allows us to change.”
Schneider concluded by urging believers to embrace holiness over comfort and allow the Holy Spirit to continually refine their hearts.
“As we cooperate with God through the pattern of the tabernacle, we’re going to become pure and more and more see His face,” he said.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
