Let’s lay the cards on the table…
If we are being perfectly honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that society as a whole often seeks out people, systems and information that affirm its own desires, regardless if those desires run contrary to moral virtues. In a culture that increasingly prioritizes individual autonomy and self-expression, there is a strong tendency to embrace ideologies and narratives that justify behaviors and lifestyles at odds with traditional moral standards. Rather than confronting uncomfortable truth, or considering the possibility of a higher moral authority, many prefer to align with voices that echo their own perspectives, creating echo chambers that reinforce their choices. This collective pursuit of validation over virtue has led to a widespread rejection of Biblical principles, as society moves further away from absolute moral standards in favor of a more fluid, self-determined morality. And Christians are following suit.
Today, Christians are increasingly seeking out teachers and leaders who will endorse lifestyles and choices that are contrary to Biblical teachings. This trend reflects a growing desire for spiritual validation of personal preferences, rather than a commitment to the unchanging truths of Scripture. Instead of allowing the Bible to challenge and transform their lives, some believers look for teachers and interpretations that conveniently align with modern cultural norms and their own desires, leading to a rise in teachings that dilute or reinterpret Biblical standards to fit more comfortably within contemporary values. Such an approach undermines the authority of Scripture and can lead to a faith that is more self-justification than genuine discipleship.
And God will have none of it!
Itching Ears
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 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 4:1-4).
We all must be on guard and tread carefully. As culture shifts toward embracing more progressive and permissive values, there is a growing pressure on believers to adapt their faith to fit these changing standards, putting us in grave danger. In seeking to avoid conflict or appear more inclusive we put ourselves at risk of compromise. This conformity not only weakens the church’s witness but also risks diluting the transformative power of the gospel in a world that desperately needs truth.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And in His truth is where we find freedom, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). Are you abiding in His Word, in His truth?
Biblical truth often hurts at first because it challenges our deeply held beliefs, confronts our sins, and exposes the areas of our lives that are out of alignment with God’s will. Yet this discomfort is essential, as truth is the sword of the Spirit, designed to pierce through the layers of self-deception and pretense that we build around our hearts. It cuts away the falsehoods and illusions that keep us trapped in patterns of sin, revealing our need for God’s grace and transformation. While it may be painful at first, opening ourselves up to His convicting truth leads us into a deeper and more authentic relationship with Him.
So let me ask you…. what are you “heaping up for yourself?” What kind of teachings, books, podcasts and people are you seeking out? Is it truth from Scripture or great swelling words of emptiness (2 Peter 2:18) to justify your desires? Are you being convicted and transformed according to Biblical standards, or have you and sin become comfortably numb?
Always in love,
Carole
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