I find this scripture to be so true in the time that we live in, don't you?

Question

2 Tim 4:3 For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled;
God inspired the Apostle Paul to write in accord with their own desires. And to have your ears tickled, to surround yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear. What are your thoughts?

Romans 15:4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.

Answer 1

Yes very true.
Many people these days choose a religion that fits in with their lifestyle. There are so many to choose from!

However, what we really should do is ask the questions
How can I fit in with God?
What does God require of me?
How can I please God?
How can I worship Him in a way that's pleasing to him?

Not - how can God fit in with my lifestyle?
It actually shows arrogance, putting our decisions & choices above the Creator of the universe's.

Thinking logically about it, (assuming you believe in a Creator) he must have certain standards & purposes etc. The only way we can find out what those are is to learn about him & follow the guidelines from his word.

Do we want to please him or do we just want our ears tickled?

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2004/12/1/article_02.htm

http://www.watchtower.org/library/ti/article_09.htm

:)

Answer 2

you are correct sir!! I see an over abundance of that in the world today. People believe what ever makes them all fuzzy and in most cases it isn't based in any truth. This is a battle I fight every day. Some times my answers seem far out I suppose . The truth isn't easy for those with tender ears. But I have taken 18 yrs to check things out in God's word. I will say this in closing that it is an awesome responsibly when you teach God's word and I don't take it lightly. The consequences are too severe to take chances or guesses.

Answer 3

Yes. I always find it interesting when people tell me "I'm satisfied with my religion" or "my religion suits me" They seem to feel that the manner of worship is like a dress or a pair of shoes that one just tries on until one fits. It does not occur to them that they should conform to God's will and not the other way around. These people proceed "according to thier own desires" just as the unbeleivers do. (2 Peter 3:3, Jude 17-18)

Answer 4

I agree. The larger context of the passage in the NASB says,

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For 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 (J)will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Tim 4:2-5)

The frightening implication of this passage is that Paul is telling this to Timothy in the context of his instructions to him regarding how to conduct his ministry to the church at Ephesus. Thus Paul seems to be referring to perversions of Christianity more than he is to worldly conditions. Most scholars think this passage is fulfilled to some extent in the Gnostic movement that was in its embryonic stage at that time. Gnostics perverted the Gospel and turned aside to myths that had no origin in God's revealed Word. Sadly, we are seeing an increase in perversions of the Gospel in our day. Besides seeing an explosion of cults in the 20th century, we have seen disturbing perversions within the church. One need only turn on "Christian television" to find examples of this. The "Word Faith" movement tickles people's ears with the idea that they are little gods who can manipulate spiritual powers to their own advantage. The growing emerging church movement tells us that we don't need to be burdened by any absolute adherence to truth or morals. We can surrender to the world and call it victory. What is just as troubling is that many orthodox believers just don't seem to care that God's Word is being perverted or that essential elements of the Gospel are being compromised. We do indeed live in evil times.

Answer 5

Hi Jason, yes I agree with what you have said, scripture is certainly being fulfilled even as we live,you know too the passage in Paul were ` Men will be lovers of themselves` etc.

Answer 6

Hi Jason,

Yes, truly, we can see this being fulfilled right before our very eyes. It often makes me wonder how so many deny that the prophecies in the Bible are true and that they were and still are being fulfilled.

Answer 7

sounds exactly like the world today... so many of my 'so-called christian' acquaintances want to find a religion that serves their lifestyle... they have no desire to know what the Bible says (Matthew 7:13-23) they want a god who serves them even though they wanna call themselves "christians"

Answer 8

Christians are included in this. Look on yahoo answers. How many times have christians asked atheists a question, only to pick a christian as best answer, because they agree. They aren't looking for answers, they are looking for validation.

Answer 9

Not more than this one:

After menstruating, women are unclean for seven days, and anyone who touches a menstruating woman is considered unclean (Leviticus 15:19-24)

or this Christians should not be overly concerned with living long lives or worrying about what they eat and wear because God will provide for them (matt 6:25-34).

or this

Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

Answer 10

It speaks to the heart! and mans heart hasn't changed since creation.