Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Those tax collectors made their living collecting taxes for the Roman Empire and it was common for the tax collector to collect a little extra for himself. That's how they earned a living. Likewise, the soldiers used their positions to hustle money from the people. It's what the tax collectors and soldiers did. John called them out. He did not concern himself with political correctness. He did not concern himself with hurting their feelings. When they came to John and asked him what they should do he did not hold back the truth. He did not even spare King Herod. Look at this from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6:
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
So even the King listened to John the Baptist. The king would not have had John beheaded if it were not for his wife's actions. She did not want to hear John pointing out their sin. She was embarrassed and infuriated to the point that she even plotted John's death. Here is what I see in this: John was a fiery preacher that indeed called out sin in a direct way. However, he only did this to those that came to him and were interested in his message. It was people that were believers or those interested in becoming a believer that John preached to. The worldly people did not want to hear it. It seems that the king's unlawful wife, Herodias, was one of those worldly people and it was because of her that John was beheaded. As Christians, we should learn from this. When people come to us that are genuinely interested in the faith or we are talking to someone that is a fellow believer, tell the truth. Don't water it down out of concern for political correctness. However, if it is a worldly person that is just having a worldly conversation, it may not be a good idea to engage with them. One example of this would be on the LGBT issue. It's hot-button issue and worldly people do not really want to hear scriptural truth on this issue. It will only stir up an argument. However, when talking to other believers certainly speak the truth. Many Christians out there do not know the scriptures or have a faulty understanding of the Bible's teaching on this issue. Help them, even if it is difficult. Do not be like a "reed shaken by the wind" (see Matthew 11:7).
Think about this brothers and sisters: if a gay man went to John the Baptist and asked what he should do, what do you think John would have said? He would have told him to stop sinning in a very direct and understandable way, just like he did with the Jew, tax collector, soldier, and King Herod. And John would have baptized him if he were willing to repent. If he came to you and asked, what would you say?
