“For the time will come when people 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.”—2 Timothy 4:3-4
2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us a time will come when people won’t be preaching sound doctrine. That time is now. There is liberal theology out there poisoning Christianity. It bows to the ways of the world not to God’s Word.
The enemy is active within the walls of the church to cause division. There are churches that claim to be Christian yet preach what is contrary to scripture. Be aware of pastors who are contradicting the Bible.
What we are seeing today are churches changing God’s Word to go along with the worldview claiming the times are different than when the Bible was written. Scriptures aren’t outdated. They aren’t from a bygone era. They are for the here and now; always and forever.
We don’t reinterpret, change, or add to scripture to fit our culture. The enemy loves to set-up camp in the church and try to deceive its members and leaders. We need to be on the lookout for false doctrine.
Psalm 34:4 tells us: For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. It says His Word is RIGHT and TRUE. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us it only applied to those in the Bible times. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 13:8; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
We have been equipped with our Bibles to stand firm against the twisted truths we are hearing about today. Staying grounded in sound doctrine is how we protect ourselves from this deception. It is hard to be led astray if we know God’s Word rather than relying on someone else to interpret it for us.
When people are operating with a false view of God, they want a watered-down version of who God is. We have confused Christians due to these false teachings which minimize sin and God’s truth in the Bible. Those who reinterpret scripture and deceive those into false worship will be judged. Wrong teaching is going to lead to wrongdoing.
We live in a society where cultural expectations are imposed on Christians. We are to reject society’s norms that oppose God’s truth but at the same time embrace the diversity of God’s kingdom.
Being a Christian isn’t about being relevant. We weren’t put here to impress others. We have been placed right where we are to point others to Jesus. We continue to speak the truth in love and kindness showing the world there is a better way to live.
Father God,
Forgive me when I drift into worldly thinking. When this happens, I ask for you to realign my mind and heart. Open my eyes to recognize false teaching or where I may be compromising Your Word in my life. Empower me to be bolder in my faith in a loving way to those who believe the lies of what they are watching and hearing on TV and social media about Christians. Equip me with right words and right responses. I ask for hearts to be softened to hear Your truth. Lead them to a church that unapologetically preaches Your Truth and not a watered-down message. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
September Verse
“You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.”—Psalm 89:13 (NASB)
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