February 3, 2021
Read 2 Timothy Chapters 3-4
Recently a friend of mine asked an interesting question to Christians I was grouped in. This sparked some stimulating comments. She asked, “How do you know that the Christian author(s) who’s books you are studying are actually teaching you biblically sound doctrine?” I thought that was a great question, a question that directed me to the Scripture.
The Bible tells us to use discernment and to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1) We are warned throughout the Bible of deception and false teachers. The Bible even says that in the latter days deception will increase. Jesus said in Matthew 24:11 when referring to the end times, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Jesus warns four times in just that one chapter about deception!
Therefore, I think it’s crucial that we make sure we are believing the right things. There seems to be an endless supply of opinions out there. I do appreciate the mass supply of Christian resources we have today. But with the abundance of information comes the greater task of rooting out the errors. We all have our school of thought and perspectives, but we are also all sinners. By nature our thoughts are faulty. (Jeremiah 17:9) We need the Word of God to renew our minds. (Romans 12:2) We need the Word of God to lead us rightly. (Psalm 23:3, 25:5, 31:3,119:133)
When I was a new Christian, one of my favorite places to go was the Christian bookstore. I could spend hours browsing through the books and music selections. I still enjoy going there. There is something special about being able to go to a Christian owned business where the central characteristics of the store are the things of God. The problem with browsing the Christian bookstore as a new Christian was that I assumed that every book in the store was a “Christian” book. I didn’t take the time to research the authors. I was gullible. I needed to be discipled. I ended up reading books, that as I look back on them today, were clearly heretical. But praise the Lord! He did what He said He would do and led me into truth. (John 16:13) The more I read the Bible the more I recognized error in some of the Christian books. In John 17:17 Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
The Apostle Paul discipled young Timothy and though Timothy had a quality upbringing, he still needed direction. (Titus 2:1-2) In 2 Timothy chapters 3 and 4, Paul is admonishing Timothy. He told him that perilous times are coming. Iniquity is going to abound in this world. Paul said that “…evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13) He exhorted Timothy to stay in the Scripture and be ready. Be ready to preach, reprove, rebuke, and exhort at all times. (2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:2) Paul knew things would get worse and he emphasized the importance of staying in the Scriptures, Paul wanted to make sure Timothy was prepared.
Then Paul used an interesting analogy to explain our natural tendency as sinners. He said that people would have itching ears. He said that folks would not endure or bear sound teachings. We do tend to avoid scrutiny and are prone to gravitate to people that tell us what we want to hear and make us feel good. The truth is not always easy to hear. Paul was saying that in order to accommodate their selfish desires they would heap up teachers that would tell them lies. Teachers that make them feel good. Have you ever had an itchy ear? I don’t know about you, but for me, it sure does feel good to scratch an itch! Paul said that men would have their itches scratched by heaping up false teachers. Notice he didn’t say gather a little bit or gradually accumulate a little at a time, Paul said, heap which means an abundance, or a considerable amount. (2 Timothy 4:3-4) Jesus said that many would call Him Lord but not many would enter into life eternal. (Matthew 7:13-23)
So, returning to the question my friend asked… “How do you know that the Christian author(s) who’s books you are studying are actually teaching you biblically sound doctrine?” The best answer I could think of was, “Read the Bible, read the Bible, read the Bible!” There is a heap of Christian book authors out there, not all of them are false teachers. But for us to distinguish between the true and the false, we must know God’s Word. Instead of looking to get our ears scratched, let us look to fill our ears with truth. Listen.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto churches.” ~Jesus Christ
Scriptures For Further Study:
Deuteronomy 13:1-11, Deuteronomy 18:18-22, Jeremiah 5:25-31, Jeremiah 14:13-15, Jeremiah 23:9-40, Jeremiah 28:15-17, Micah 3:5-6, Matthew 7, Matthew 15:9, John 10:1-16, Acts 17:10-11, Acts 20:27-32, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Galatians 1:6-12, Ephesians 4:14-15, Ephesians 5:6-11, Colossians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-23, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:15-16, Titus 1:10-16, Hebrews 13:8-9, James 3:1, 2 Peter 2:1-22, 1 John 2:15-27, 2 John 7, Jude 3-4, Revelation 12:9-12
In Times Like These 