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| Event 2 - World Polarized |
| An Easy Religion |
Key Text
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
2 Timothy 4:2-4
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By the pride of human wisdom, by contempt for the influence of the
Holy Spirit, and by disrelish for the truths of God's word, many who
profess to be Christians, and who feel competent to teach others, will
be led to turn away from the requirements of God. Paul declared to
Timothy, "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and
shall be turned unto fables."
The apostle does not here refer to the openly irreligious, but to the professing
Christians who make inclination their guide, and thus become enslaved by self.
Such are willing to listen to those doctrines only that do not rebuke their sins
or condemn their pleasure-loving course. They are offended by the plain words
of the faithful servants of Christ and choose teachers who praise and flatter
them. And among professing ministers there are those who preach the opinions
of men instead of the word of God. Unfaithful to their trust, they lead astray
those who look to them for spiritual guidance.
Most people today want an easy religion and would be pleased with our discourses
if we dwelt on the love of Jesus, of this they never tire. Some say we are in
danger of offending people if we dwell on the sterner questions of duty and the
law of God. The spurious experience, which is the source of such sentiments,
prevails throughout christianity today and is a great danger.
Many are continually saying, "All that we have to do is to believe in Christ." They
claim that faith is all we need. In its fullest sense, this is true; but they
do not take it in the fullest sense. To believe in Jesus is to take him as our
redeemer and our pattern. If we abide in him and he abides in us, we are partakers
of his divine nature, and are doers of his word. The love of Jesus in the heart
will lead to obedience to all his commandments. But the love that goes no farther
than the lips, is a delusion; it will not save any soul. Many reject the truths
of the Bible, while they profess great love for Jesus; but the apostle John declares, "He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him." While Jesus has done all in the way of merit, we ourselves
have something to do in the way of complying with the conditions. "If ye
love me," said our Saviour, "keep my commandments." |
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