2 Timothy 4:3 says: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
The amplified bible says it this way:
...they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
Have you ever heard someone say, "Yes, I was brought in by these people to tickle their itchy ears and foster their erroneous thinking."?
Are these verses a call for teachers and preachers to examine their own ministry to see if they indeed are ear ticklers or are preaching sound doctrine? Or is it a call to the listeners to check if they are following sound doctrine or are they having their itchy ears tickled? Or both?
Two hypothetical questions:
1) Let's say you were in the pastor/teacher position and you discovered, from reading your Bible, you was teaching in error and changing your preaching would either get you fired, or clear out the church and the doors would close because of a lack of members, what would you do? Keep teaching in error or face the consequences of preaching truth and sound doctrine?
or
2) If you was in a church and found, from reading your Bible, they were not teaching sound doctrine, and you have been going to this church for a long time and have deep roots in giving, in fellowship and in friends & family at this church that you now know is tickling itchy ears and not teaching sound doctrine. What would you do? Ignore what you learned and just go with the flow or quietly try and find a new church home and leave? or what ever other option you feel you would do in this, but changing the church won't work or happen.
1-2} My answer would be pray and ask the Lord... then obey what he told me to do
The responsibility for judging doctrine and spiritual leadership, although certainly entrusted to those called to be spiritual leaders, falls finally upon the shoulders of each believer. The teachings and warnings of the NT concerning unsound doctrine and false spiritual leadership clearly substantiate this reality: Christians must be READY and ABLE to judge.
I believe one clear statement to Timothy by Paul was be steadfast in what you are doing you know the word of God continue as you have an do not me moved by what people do.
One truth in this setting is Paul was exhorting Timothy.
!st Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1 � I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
NO !!! To do so is to cause a Brother or Sister to stumble in their walk with the GOD.
or Face the consequences of preaching truth and sound doctrine?
Yes !!! We all face persecution, trials and consequences for Preaching the Truth and Sound Doctrine..
What would you do? Ignore what you learned and just go with the flow
NO !!! I cant do this�going with the flow in daily life is one thing�going with the flow in following Non-Truth and Incorrect Doctrine I really get�well�the Holy Spirit within me brings to my remembrance and convicts�We obey GOD�not Man. I shared in another thread that the Pastor during a Sunday service said Everyone stand put your hands up and Worship GOD�Everyone stood�and I remained seated�Pastor saw me looking at him as I sat there�We talked after Service�I expressed my concern privately�
or Quietly try and find a new church home and leave? or what ever other option you feel you would do in this, but changing the church won't work or happen.
NO !!! I am a part of this Fellowship ( Church ) of the Body of Christ�to just up and leave with out the Holy Spirit conviction is wrong�for me anyway�I cant change the Church but ( WE ) can�.xo
IF-IF-IF-IF the body of Yeshua were practising Biblical plurality of Elders,and the Priesthood of Believers,maybe there might not be so much tickling as what is going on.
If the body were taught how to read the word,this might not be happening as much.
If men were broken,instead of being lifted up in pride,this might not be as bad as it is.
If the people understood their position in Yehsua,and they would confront thiese issues,maybe we might see change..
If the real teachers were teaching and not the phonies,then thw real Word would be going forth..
Much more could be said..
Shalom and Chesed:
St.George
ps:Yes I have taken forth this matter where I have been at the last 10 months.
Yet most of the believers in America (the homeland hahahaha) have been spiritually brainwashed
When a person begins confronting this issue,they will be called rebels,insurrectionists,haters,causing strife,etc....
Yet push forward and do not give up,especially looking for a real Bible believng,teaching,living fellowship..
Yep and if the sun would rise in the north and set in the south, it would make for some very interesting sunrise and sunsets to.
I so agree there should be a plurality of elders, but there are buildings (not churches) that do have a number of so called elders (hard to call a false teacher and elder) on staff and they all follow false teaching.
What would you do if you was a preacher or elder in a church and discovered, from reading your bible, you was trained wrong and was not teaching biblical truth? (this is not a far fetched scenario either, it happens everyday)
REALLY!!! Hate mail from family??? That has to be rough on anyone. Oh well, I think leaving is the right thing.
I was church shopping and stayed at one church for 1.5 yrs before seeing the cracks in their theology. That was when I started sending emails ahead with questions and the answers I got back where very revealing to say the least, I also would sit down one on one with the pastor so I would not be surprised down the road, I found out everything I needed to know up front, that it is how I found a very good church that put God's Word front and center. A high view of the Word leads to a high view of God, and that is the kind of church I like a lot! They sang praise songs that were high and lofty and not the 7-11 songs you here now days in a lot of churches. (7 words, sang 11 times)
And if you like 7-11 songs, that is ok, I don't think anyone is a heretic when they sing a 7-11 song. Just not my cup of tea, that's all.
But...If you want to see some awesome song writing, look at songs written before 1860's there are some amazing lyrics, they'll make you want to go, "hold on! wait a sec! let my mind soak in all this theology we just sang!
Yet most of the believers in America (the homeland hahahaha) have been spiritually brainwashed
~ I totally agree...and that is just were Satan wants us...Ignorant, Complacant and Unconcerned...
When a person begins confronting this issue,they will be called rebels,insurrectionists,haters,causing strife,etc....
~ Yup !...Father GOD gives US all a New Heart and Re-Newed mind when we come to Him and Accept Christ Jesus*...We are to use that Heart and Mind in line with the Word...
Yet push forward and do not give up,especially looking for a real Bible believng,teaching,living fellowship..
~ Yup ! Onward Christian Soilder...Seek and Yee shall Find...Knock and the Door Shall be Opened. Be Planted Firmly Upon the Foundation of and in the LORD Jesus*...xo
