"So why do you keep calling me "Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? - Luke 6: 46 (NLT)
Because it sounds religious? Because it is easier to teach? Because it leads to more money in the offering plate? The real reason is we have traded in eternal rewards for temporal gains. We now measure spiritual success with carnal metrics. We have tolerated a little leaven here and a little leaven there and now it is throughout the entire batch.
The conclusion of the key verses is a frightening statement, yet it is borne out in what we see today. The people that are falling away have their consciences seared as with a hot iron. Another translation says their consciences are dead. This is serious business beloved. If you have ever tried to talk to someone who is under deception you would know what this means. There is often no discussion about anything. Defending the man, woman, or ministry is more important than the purity of the Gospel. They will hide behind the usual Christianisms and try to attack the messenger. They simply will no longer listen.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. - 2Timothy 4: 3-4 (NLT)
There are far too many itching ears out there in Christendom. They are gathering around them teachers like Joel Osteen to tell them that God wants them rich beyond the dreams of their own greed. They are gathering around them teachers like Joseph Prince to tell them to not worry about those pesky do's and do not's in the Word of God. They are gathering around them the new hipster pastors who show them that they do not really have to change. They are gathering around them purpose driven, seeker friendly churches because they make Christianity about them instead of about Christ. When you try and bring up the truth, they reject it out of hand and cry "discord!" Or they cry "legalist!" Instead, they chase after myths comforted by the sheer number of people around them chasing the same exact myth. But the broad path that leads to destruction is broad for a reason - there are a lot of people on it. There are a lot of people falling away. It has started beloved.
Reverend Anthony Wade - January 31, 2014
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