- Jun 26, 2015
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We all know the scripture about those in the last days. They will have itching ears, and satisfied only when their ears are scratched by what is preached. And we all assume that means those spoken of do not include me, lol.
What comes to mind are those in it for what Christianity does for them. The prosperity gospel is a good example. Oh, the adherants of this gospel say that they are in it for the Lord and are looking for the hundred fold increase only so that they can bless others, but the truth is plain to see in the way they interact with the world.
Itching ears. Right? And that is not us, right? Or is it? I content that our modern takr on the gospel, although it does not go into the excesses of the properity, confess it-possess it crowd, is in fact still an itching ears gospel. Let me explain.
The Bible is full of both encouragements and warnings. We are to behold both the goodness AND the severity of God. And yet is this what we hear from our pulpits? No, very rarely do we see preachers taking their oversight of the sheep seriously. Their job is to grow us up in the Lord in all things, through encouragements AND through warnings, rebukes, and instructions in righteousness.
But today there is a clear goal in most churches to grow the size of the church, regardless of the quality of the saints themselves. Thus churches are competing for saints and what most view as negative preaching..... ceasing from sin, overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil,
loving not the world, avoiding being double minded, seeking holiness and purity of heart..... these things do not go over well with congregations, do they?
If pastors share as they ought, saints will simply mpve on to other pastures. Why? Itching ears. We have made corrective actions in our walks with God a 'personsl' thing, so we preach with no unction, no warnings, and put forth a no-cost gospel where you do not have to hate your old life at all. You do not have to seek holiness, because it makes us 'sin conscious' and robs us of our joy. You do not have to endure to the end. You do not have to reaist the devil, becasue even if you slip, you are forgiven, even if you do not repent! Why worry? Our fate is sealed. We are heaven bound, so all those warnings, corrections, rebukes, instructions in righteousness really are just downers.
Brothers and sisters, itching ears are on the path to becoming deceived ears. When we can finally admit that our walk with God is missing the other half of the gospel, where Jesus promises to change us into His image through His correction and instruction found throughout the new testament, a new era will begin. The church is destined to awaken to the truth of who we are, but not all will receive it. What each one of us needs to decide is, do we continue to coddle our ears and our hearts with unbalanced assurances, or do we finally lay ourselves bare before the master potter, and seek Him to actually change us into His likeness?
That decision, dear friends, will determine our everything.
blessings,
Gideon
What comes to mind are those in it for what Christianity does for them. The prosperity gospel is a good example. Oh, the adherants of this gospel say that they are in it for the Lord and are looking for the hundred fold increase only so that they can bless others, but the truth is plain to see in the way they interact with the world.
Itching ears. Right? And that is not us, right? Or is it? I content that our modern takr on the gospel, although it does not go into the excesses of the properity, confess it-possess it crowd, is in fact still an itching ears gospel. Let me explain.
The Bible is full of both encouragements and warnings. We are to behold both the goodness AND the severity of God. And yet is this what we hear from our pulpits? No, very rarely do we see preachers taking their oversight of the sheep seriously. Their job is to grow us up in the Lord in all things, through encouragements AND through warnings, rebukes, and instructions in righteousness.
But today there is a clear goal in most churches to grow the size of the church, regardless of the quality of the saints themselves. Thus churches are competing for saints and what most view as negative preaching..... ceasing from sin, overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil,
loving not the world, avoiding being double minded, seeking holiness and purity of heart..... these things do not go over well with congregations, do they?
If pastors share as they ought, saints will simply mpve on to other pastures. Why? Itching ears. We have made corrective actions in our walks with God a 'personsl' thing, so we preach with no unction, no warnings, and put forth a no-cost gospel where you do not have to hate your old life at all. You do not have to seek holiness, because it makes us 'sin conscious' and robs us of our joy. You do not have to endure to the end. You do not have to reaist the devil, becasue even if you slip, you are forgiven, even if you do not repent! Why worry? Our fate is sealed. We are heaven bound, so all those warnings, corrections, rebukes, instructions in righteousness really are just downers.
Brothers and sisters, itching ears are on the path to becoming deceived ears. When we can finally admit that our walk with God is missing the other half of the gospel, where Jesus promises to change us into His image through His correction and instruction found throughout the new testament, a new era will begin. The church is destined to awaken to the truth of who we are, but not all will receive it. What each one of us needs to decide is, do we continue to coddle our ears and our hearts with unbalanced assurances, or do we finally lay ourselves bare before the master potter, and seek Him to actually change us into His likeness?
That decision, dear friends, will determine our everything.
blessings,
Gideon