” I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (II Timothy 4:1-4)
The Apostle Paul is writing to young Timothy here, and he is prophesying that there will come a “time”, within the church, when people will not not want to hear, put up with, or endure sound doctrine. The reason I put the word time in quotation marks is because that word time is the Greek word kairos. Paul is not speaking of time (Greek word chronos) that is measured by seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years ; rather, he is speaking of an appointed time, a time on God’s calendar if you will. Bruce Hurt (preceptaustin) tells us that kairos has a “window of opportunity” aspect to it. In other words, there is going to be a “season” or a foreordained time when many church people will reject sound doctrine, and “pile up” for themselves teachers who will tickle their ears, or, tell them what they want to hear.
Friends, I believe we are living in that time. So many Christians do not want to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ anymore; but, have opted instead for preachers who will confirm their presuppositions and feed their lusts. It is even common within the church today to hear people reject doctrine all together arguing that Jesus wants us to be free, and that “doctrines” are divisive, Pharisaical, and Spirit-quenching.
To be sure, much of this “rebellion” is due to the cold, dead traditionalism that marks many of our churches. People are weary of “holding to a form of godliness, but denying it’s power.” The majority 0f Christianity is rejecting the cessationism (a point of view which teaches that the spiritual gifts like prophesy, tongues, healing, etc… are not for today) which has characterized so many churches in the past. God’s precious Spirit is opening the eyes of His people to the fact that Jesus is more than three hymns and a sermon, that there is to be a living, vital union with and in Christ by which we have real fellowship with the living God. But tragically, this rejection of tradition has become a breeding ground for many false doctrines.
I John 2:27 tells us that we have received an anointing from God (Holy Spirit) which teaches us the truth, and that it teaches us to abide in Jesus. If you will study your Bibles as to the role of the Holy Spirit, you will find that He always points to Jesus, glorifying Him. Jesus assures us in John 5: 37-39 that if you are truly hearing from God, and truly understanding the scriptures, you will come to Him. True doctrine is life giving and full of the freedom which draws us to Christ. It is always about Jesus! When you hear doctrines and teachings which are self-promoting, that concentrate on how wonderful, powerful, and anointed we are-beware.
If you are a believer, on a consistent basis, take all you think you know and lay it at the feet of Jesus. Ask Him to rid you of your presuppositions and teach you by His Spirit. Prayerfully study the word of God remembering, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”(II Timothy 3:16,17)
If you don’t know Jesus, will you come to Him today? He is the way, the life, and the TRUTH.
(I had a friend named Norman who would always ask, “What does the Bible say?” Well, when considering Traditional Theology,
Dominion Theology, Kingdom Now, Liberation Theology, Emergent Church, Emerging Church, Apostolic Reformation, Home Church Movement, etc… “What does the Bible say?”)
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