Does your church tickle your ears?

[2ndAmendment]

2 Timothy 4:1-8

<sup id="en-NASB-29872">1</sup>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: <sup id="en-NASB-29873">2</sup>preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

<sup id="en-NASB-29874">3</sup>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, <sup id="en-NASB-29875">4</sup>and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

<sup id="en-NASB-29876">5</sup>But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

<sup id="en-NASB-29877">6</sup>For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

<sup id="en-NASB-29878">7</sup>I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

<sup id="en-NASB-29879">8</sup>in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

How does your minister measure up to this passage from the Bible? Does your minister teach Truth or does your minister tickle your ears? Does your minister preach the word, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction, or does your minister preach that all is well and everything will be alright?

Many churches have fallen into the trap of teaching only touchy, feelly, good to hear stuff. People feel uncomfortable when confronted with sin, so they don't teach that you can't sin and get away with it. They just teach that God is good and that He loves you. Church has become business for many and often people leave churches that teach the Truth of the Bible. "I am a big supporter of this church, and if you keep preaching stuff about fornication (supply any sin), I am going to leave." (and take my money with me). Many ministers cave to the pressure.

While God is absolutely good and He absolutely loves all people of the earth, He is absolutely Holy. He expects holiness through His plan for us; nothing less will do. A church needs to proclaim God's way.

Does your minister preach a message of conviction? Conviction is different form condemnation. Conviction provides Truth and the love of God and His grace. Condemnation is from satan and says you have no way out. The corollary to condemnation is if you have no way out, you might as well do anything you want. Condemnation is a pack of lies from satan.

If the minister does not preach a message that convicts (not condemns) people of the need for salvation, constant prayer, and consistently seeking the will of God in life, and the need to conform life to the will of God, then what good is served? The Truth is in the Bible. If a minister teaches anything that is contrary to the Bible, find a new minister. If a church or denomination teaches anything that is contrary to the Bible, get them to change or find a new church or denomination.

 

[Tinkerbell]

My priest tends to stick with the Bible. He sometimes speaks of good things, but just as often speaks of sin, and how we are to recognize that we are sinning and what we can do to try and turn away from committing the sin again. His overall message is that God loves us, no matter what, and that He recognizes that we are imperfect and will sin, but that God expects us to atone for our sins and try not to repeat them. He always tried to tie the readings to modern day things to help make it more understandable.

 

[2ndAmendment]

My priest tends to stick with the Bible. He sometimes speaks of good things, but just as often speaks of sin, and how we are to recognize that we are sinning and what we can do to try and turn away from committing the sin again. His overall message is that God loves us, no matter what, and that He recognizes that we are imperfect and will sin, but that God expects us to atone for our sins and try not to repeat them. He always tried to tie the readings to modern day things to help make it more understandable.