Itching Ears
2Tim 4:3,4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Notice that previously Paul had focused on false teachers. But false teaches largely have an audience because there are people who want listen to them because they offer an alternative view that seems pleasant to them. So here the audience is at fault. Those who look back on history for wolves among the sheep often neglect to realize that the wolves are not simply the false teachers. They are also those who follow them. For those who follow false teachers are also influencing others to follow.
As for the time coming, it has been a common phenomenon throughout history to this day. If alleged "Christians" don't like what the Bible says all they need do is find a church that either neglects to let the Bible speak to those issues, or one which reads into the Bible interpretations that are palatable, watering down or twisting its meaning.
Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad." 2Chr 18:6,7
Consider yourself. Are there interpretations of passages in the Bible that you have opted for simply because they suit your desire, or did you come to your conclusions based on an inductive study of the Word free from preconceived notions?
2Tim 4:3,4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Notice that previously Paul had focused on false teachers. But false teaches largely have an audience because there are people who want listen to them because they offer an alternative view that seems pleasant to them. So here the audience is at fault. Those who look back on history for wolves among the sheep often neglect to realize that the wolves are not simply the false teachers. They are also those who follow them. For those who follow false teachers are also influencing others to follow.
As for the time coming, it has been a common phenomenon throughout history to this day. If alleged "Christians" don't like what the Bible says all they need do is find a church that either neglects to let the Bible speak to those issues, or one which reads into the Bible interpretations that are palatable, watering down or twisting its meaning.
Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad." 2Chr 18:6,7
Consider yourself. Are there interpretations of passages in the Bible that you have opted for simply because they suit your desire, or did you come to your conclusions based on an inductive study of the Word free from preconceived notions?
