Fables

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, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4: 3-4 NKJV 

I didn't fall for it this time.  That's not to say I haven't had "Itchy ears" before and wanted to hear only what I felt was good.  But this time I didn't engage them.  However, I did get a report from a few trusted friends who did go to hear the pastors message this Easter Sunday morning.  It is very hard to  not be critical of a message that someone brings to a congregation.  But what if we know that the message that has been delivered is false if even in part?  Forgive me, but if even a part of a pastors message is wrong, it is a fable!  It is in 2 Timothy 4:3 where the elder apostle Paul warns his student, the young Timothy, of such false teachers.  Pauls words are were as effective then as they are today.  However, today we seem to have alot of itching ears out there.  As I said, I was one of these people.  For me it was more about not wanting to hear something that would cause me to accept some new truths.  I was fine just hearing the typical institutional church message.  We've all heard these fables  at one time or another.  God is a angry God, you're salvation is dependent on your behavior, You MUST seek Gods forgiveness every time you sin and Lord forbid if you don't tithe EACH Sunday!  Of  course, through further study and the help of a dear friend, I learned that these statements are pure, unadulterated crap!  

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who brought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:1 NKJV 

It would seem that Paul wasn't alone in his warnings of false teachers.  Here in 2 Peter 2:1 the apostle Peter gives us the very same warning, with a twist.  For Peter warns that such false teachers will "Bring on themselves swift destruction."   We do well to recall that it is this same man Peter who spent so much time with Jesus during His ministry.  I would say that Peter knew firsthand what the message of Jesus was, for He lived it.  So, what are we to say to those who teach a false message without knowing better?  Well, these same warnings from the apostles of Jesus are available to them as well as ourselves.  Remember, Paul warns young Timothy to yet be on guard against such teachers.  Therefore, he KNEW they were out there.  As the word of our Lord is sharper than any two edged Roman sword, so it is that it can convict (In their hearts) His children of false messages.  Do we allow our "Itching ears" to hear only what we would like ot hear?  

~Scott~