Dave Hart 5 hours ago near Winslow, AZ · THE MEN OF PERILOUS TIMES We know the significance of last words. This is one reason that Paul’s last letter to Timothy is so important to us. 2 Timothy is full of inspired insight that, if understood and heeded, can help us successfully survive our spiritual journey. One such instance is his description of the men of perilous times in chapter 3: “This knows also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud blasphemous disobedient to parents ,— unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power the re oft from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers, lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV). Paul’s description is chilling for the plain fact that he describes so many in our world today. That this is so should not surprise us. The words “the last days” in the absolute sense have reference to any time within the Christian dispensation, from the Cross and the establishment of the church until the end of time. There were men like those described by Paul in his own day. Indeed, there have always been such (men like Jannes and Jambres of verse 8). We have plenty of these fellows around today. The sad truth is that some of them are so-called “thought leaders” in our culture. Our responsibility when we confront (or are confronted by) such a man is to “turn away.” What does this mean? The general teaching of the Biblical text does not allow us to ignore sin and error, so this cannot be the meaning of “turn away.” Indeed, later in this very letter Paul says to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). Thus to “turn away” means to reject the force of the teaching and life of these men of perilous times. How do we do that? What is an effective method? When I see and hear television’s talking heads spew forth their lies and immoral claptrap I sometimes speak to the television set. This is not an effective method. I have written letters, but the leaders of the media do not feel compelled to answer letters from people who recognize and are critical of their anti-God bias. We do need to make our voices heard. We need to elect the most morally straight and ethically consistent candidates for public office that are available. We must do all the “big” things we can to turn the tide of godlessness in our culture. There is more that we can do, however. We can engage in serious discussion the people we meet who have bought into the philosophy of life described above. Take for example the matter of blasphemy. Now this word encompasses many things, but it surely includes cursing with the name of God and using the name of the Lord as an expletive. Why shouldn’t we ask people who talks like this to refrain from such? If you do something like this you will be judged for being narrow-minded. Don’t fret... it’s a compliment. Notice two other things about these men of perilous times. These evil fellows don’t look evil. They have a “form of godliness? Many times I have heard my own brethren speak of a man who teaches plain error in glowing appreciation of his ability and attractiveness. Such is an example of the second thing we must see: such people (and their followers) are “ever learning and never knowing the truth.” The Bible furnishes us completely (2 Timothy 3:15- 17). We have the truth (John 17:17) and Jesus says we can know enough of it to be free from sin (John 8:32). We must not let some smooth operator take it from us. Yes, these are perilous times, full of bad ideas forcefully pressed. This is so in our schools, in the media, in politics, and most damagingly, in the churches. The antidote to men of perilous times is the truth. It is a blessing from God that we can know and practice the truth.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 15:10:07 +0000
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