“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2-5).
In many situations, an honest, straightforward approach is more than welcome.
“Don’t sugarcoat things—tell me what I need to know.”
I don’t want my mechanic telling me that my car’s AC works brilliantly while avoiding telling me that the engine is on its last leg and might spontaneously combust at any moment. I don’t want my doctor telling me that my hearing is impeccable while avoiding telling me that my cholesterol is dangerously high.
These are things that I need to know! I don’t want my car to explode while I’m driving it to work. I don’t want my high cholesterol to lead to other health-related issues.
But when it comes to spiritual issues . . . in many situations, Paul’s words to Timothy strike true.
Paul wrote to his young protégé, encouraging him to faithfully carry out his duties as a pastor. He also warned Timothy not to be surprised if an honest, straightforward approach was less than welcome.
“The time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
As sinful people, we don’t like hearing that what we do is wrong. And not just wrong—deadly and damning.
Is it any wonder that so many churches soften the law found in God’s Word? Is it any wonder that such false teachers gain such great followings? As sinful people, we love hearing that what we’re doing isn’t wrong. We crave the validation, the easing and unburdening of our consciences, that such a message gives.
But that message is a deadly lie.
God’s law needs to crush our sinful hearts, shattering pride, lust, envy, jealousy, addiction—whatever we struggle with. If the law is weakened or softened in any way, the gospel message—that beautiful balm of what our Savior has done for us—is weakened too.
Does my sinful nature like it when I sit in church and hear my pastor address the sins I struggle with day after day? Of course not! But that’s exactly what I need to hear. What’s more, it leads to what I desperately need to hear: what Jesus has done to rescue me from my sin.
God doesn’t sugarcoat things in his Word. Thank God that he doesn’t! And thank God when faithful Christians speak his Word to one another in truth and love.
God’s Word calls sin what it is—deadly and damning. It separates us from our heavenly Father; it corrupts our relationships here on earth; and, if left unaddressed, it will ultimately lead to our eternal suffering in hell.
God’s Word also explicitly states what God has done in his mercy, faithfulness, and love to address our sin: He sent his Son Jesus to live, die, and rise again for us. Through Spirit-worked faith in our Savior Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins, a new life as dearly loved children of God, and a home in heaven waiting for us.
Dear Christian, these are vital truths we need to know!
These are amazing truths we want the people in our lives to know as well because we care about them; we love them and want them to know what Jesus has done for them too.
May God lead you to repentance where you’ve strayed from his ways. May God comfort you with his gospel message that all your sins are forgiven in Christ Jesus. May God give you strength to share his Word in truth and in love so that others may hear what they need to hear as well.
Prepared to Answer: Telling the Greatest Story Ever Told provides you with engaging and familiar Bible accounts as answers to frequently asked religious questions, helping you feel more prepared to share Jesus and his love with the people in your life.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House and a 2023 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation with his family.
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