Itching Ears

 ‎"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."  

~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

We live in a world today that is driven by "hype" and "glam" rather what is real. Just look at popular culture. We can't present the truth of what a person looks like, we have to photo"chop" them and create a false illusion to the public, in order to keep the public interested and hooked, and we have to keep pushing the limits to be on the "cutting edge" of what is expected. Hype rules the world we live in, it drives it and that same mentality has, sadly, entered into the church world. The church can no longer preach the truth because it is the "same old, same old" and there is nothing exciting about it. Church people want something new and exciting that "no one else has" and this most often leads to error and, in some cases, destruction. 

I know we christians don't like to talk about our flesh or even admit that it does dictate our perceptions of the Word, if we allow it to. But the truth is that if you open the door, your flesh can cause you to chase after teaching and doctrine that satisfies your flesh or itching ears, rather than strengthening your Spirit. Paul himself said, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Cor. 9:27). Even Paul felt pressure from his flesh, but he made a decision NOT to let his flesh rule or have the loudest voice in his life. I feel that too many christians are not following Paul's example, rather than renewing their mind to the Word and allowing the Spirit to be the loudest voice in them, they are allowing their flesh to dictate their beliefs, doctrine, and perception of the scripture. 

Adding to and Taking Away from the Bible!

I want to begin by saying it is not my intention to attack any individual, my intention is to speak the truth in love, and hope that the truth can set people free from the deception they have allowed themselves to be lead into. My heart is for people, and it breaks my heart when I see them following others right off of a cliff. For example, the bridge on a major interstate is out and people are driving off of it right into the Mississippi River and let's say Jane is silently standing there praying for everyone who passes by to see that the bridge is out and John is shooting flares and jumping in front of the cars waving and doing everything he can to get them to see the truth and probably getting persecuted and cursed by angry drivers. Who loves them more? The passive one or the one actively trying to get them to see the truth? Well, I have decided to be like John, even if people hate me because of it! I can't, in good-conscious, keep silent and remain passive! So anyway, now that I've shared my heart it is time for the point I wanted to make...

Lately, I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that we are living in the last days as I see the boldness and audacity of some people to purport the doctrines and beliefs that DO NOT line up with scripture. I could not believe my eyes when I read where someone quoted scripture as follows:

"Who then can be saved? Jesus said, with man (including tithing & sowing seed) it is IMPOSSIBLE, but with God who HAS PROVIDED THE TITHE, Jesus Christ, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!"