Challenging times

It was the apostle Paul who stated to Timothy that in the last days "...the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3,4).

Clearly, we are seeing that today. Whether it is in the world driven contemporary church growth movement, including what is becoming known as "Warrenism", the "Emergent Movement" or Contemplative mysticism, the clarity and authority of the Bible, the written Word of God, is under increasing attack.

But this is no surprise. Again, it was fortold by God's Word in Paul's letter to Timothy nearly 2000 years ago.

Surely, we live in a "me" age of itching ears. Very few have any tolerance at all for the final authority of a holy God who deserves and demands our worship and obedience. Oh, no. We must have our entertainment!

Doctrine, better known as Biblical Truth, is spurned. It is deemed as impractical and divisive. I beg to differ! There is nothing more practical than sound doctrine!

Romans 12:1 tells us to be "...transformed by the renewing of our mind...". It comes down to an issue of being changed. And there is no transformation without the renewing of our mind. And how do we do that? By knowing the Truth. Not guesswork. Not what "feels right". But what is true.

It all starts with repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But it doesn't stop there. It goes on via progressive sanctification. And that, my friends, is only realized by knowing Biblical Truth.

Jesus warned of this. In Matthew 7:21 and following, He speaks of a group of people (and some of whom may be reading this!) who have had all manner of experiences. But after they make their appeals, the Lord merely says "...I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'

The phrase really means "...those of you who acted like I never gave you a law." See, it's entirely possible to have all manner of experiences and claim to spirituality and have no place in Christ. It's a matter of real faith being manifest in obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

The current trend in the evangelical church is a movement away from scripture to mysticism and pragmatism. If it feels good, it must be right. If it works, hey, it has to be right. And the Scriptures are being marginalized as unclear and unauthoritative as the professing church begins to embrace all manner of paganism and ecumenism.

Secular marketing techniques for church growth are quickly replacing the Biblical model. Instead of taking the spreading the seed of the pure gospel as we should, we are trying to gain numbers by asking unconverted fish what kind of bait to use. In other words, somehow we've decided that God's Truth and God's method (or commandment, if you will) is not sufficient. Somehow, God needs our wisdom. What utter nonsense!

And "faith" that is divorced from obedience is not real faith at all. Or at least not faith in the only worthy object which is God and His Word.

So, we begin this blog with a clear purpose; to be a light to those who choose truth, discernment and obedience over human folly.

God has given us a clear blueprint. He has spoken clearly and He has not stuttered.

Will we obey?