“Trash Theology” On the eve of Paul’s execution in Rome he prophesied of a time to come in the last days when the church would be filled with trash theology and professing Christians would no longer desire to listen to sound teaching. He foretold of a time when those who called themselves “Christians” would not tolerate the truths of God’s word. The scriptures would take a back seat to “ear tickling” messages. The simple truths of the Bible would be replaced by trash theology, novelty teachings, Christian hype, private revelations and outright heresy. The day that Paul spoke of is now. The season of do-it-yourself theology, self-serving interpretations and fad teachings have come into full bloom. “FOR THE TIME WILL COME when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth.” (II Timothy 4:3 & 4) Let’s make this perfectly clear. What Paul stressed most in his last letter to the church was not what so many celebrity pastors, ambition young ministers, so called “progressive churches” and fad movements are stressing. He did not charge Timothy to produce an endless merry-go-round of programs, church dog & pony shows or exciting calendar of coming events. He didn’t stress the pursuit of church growth strategies, clever marketing research or demographic studies. He didn’t promote sensational fads, spiritual success formulas, clever evangelism gimmicks or church entertainment. He didn’t emphasize the need to be “seeker sensitive”, “user friendly” or pander a new and improved Jesus. He didn’t summon the church to preach prosperity, politics or social crusades. He didn’t encourage Timothy to preach self-empowerment teachings so that Christians could be all that they could be. What he stressed as the only effect countermeasure and antidote for that which would come is this: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at...Preach the word! Be ready in season out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” (II Timothy 4:1 & 2) What he said was; “PREACH THE WORD!” (Yes Paul included the exclamation point for emphasis) You can’t get any more simple and straight-forward than that. But that is precisely what so many preachers and puppeteers are failing to do to day in favor of all of the above. All of the above is being done more and more and the preaching of the word is being done less and less. Why? It’s all a by-product of the insatiable drive of multitudes with “itching ears” who care more above style than substance, gimmicks than sound teaching and sensationalism than the simple word. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth.” (II Timothy 4:3 & 4)
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 14:22:37 +0000
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