In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul charges Timothy to “preach the word.”
To preach is to proclaim as a herald. In ancient times, a herald was a king’s primary means of communication with his subjects. With that relationship in mind, Paul charges Timothy to be God’s herald. Interestingly, his charge follows his declaration that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, Scripture is the Word of the living God. It’s His message to His subjects. Therefore, it alone is what the preacher proclaims.
Paul proceeds to tell Timothy what his preaching must look like. In short, it must (1) evidence conviction (“be ready in season and out of season”), (2) expose sin (“reprove, rebuke”), (3) encourage obedience (“exhort”), (4) exemplify patience (“with complete patience”), and (5) emphasize doctrine (“teaching”).
Why does Paul charge Timothy to preach like this? The answer is found in verses 3–5. To sum up, people have “itching ears,” meaning they gravitate to preaching that caters to their passions. Two thousands years later, Paul’s charge is just as timely. As I survey North American evangelicalism, I see four “itches” that people want scratched…
(1) They itch for the sensational
Some people love a good conspiracy theory. Some people love novelty. Some people love controversy. As a result, they gravitate to the “new” – what they perceive as exciting. And so, they’re more interested in the identity of Gog and Magog than in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. They’re more interested in dreams and visions than in the faith once for all delivered to the saints. They’re more interested in hidden numerical codes than in the doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. They’re more interested in dooms-day theories than in the pursuit of holiness. They’re more interested in the “Da Vinci Code” than in sound historical analysis. They’re more interested in “The Shack” than in sound biblical theology. They’re more interested in “23 Minutes in Hell” than in sound biblical faith.
(2) They itch for the sensual
Some people love the spicy and saucy. Last week, Mark Driscoll sent a shock wave through the blogosphere with his new book. There was even an article on the CNN website. From all reports, his book is controversial. The book’s merit or demerit doesn’t interest me right now. (It does concern me, but not in terms of the point I’m making here.) My present concern is that people are drawn to this sort of thing. Why? We’ve witnessed a steady decline in moderation among those professing to be God’s people. As I survey the land, I find I’m asking more and more: Where’s the sense of decency? Where’s the love for wholesomeness? Where’s the desire for purity? It seems to me that, generally speaking, God’s people have become so desensitized by their close proximity to the world that they’ve lost their tender conscience. Nothing shocks them anymore. Is this a sign of sexual wholeness or sexual perversion?
(3) They itch for the sinful
Some people want others to condone their sin. This is often masked behind cries for tolerance and acceptance. The promiscuous wants to hear that what he does in private is his own business. The materialist wants to hear that his money is for his personal use. The alcoholic wants to hear that his sin is actually a physical disease. The carnal wants to hear that he can approach God however he pleases. The idolater wants to hear that he can serve God and follow his own ambitions. The legalist wants to hear that God does keep score. The idle wants to hear that some sins are mere trifles. The misogynist wants to hear that he’s exercising his God-given authority in the home. The embittered wants to hear that he has a right to be angry. The irresponsible wants to hear that someone else is to blame.
(4) They itch for the sentimental
Some people want to hear about the perfectibility of man, not the depravity of man. They want to hear that God wills their prosperity, not their adversity. They want to hear that God loves them unconditionally, not that He unconditionally commands them to repent. They want to hear that God is concerned about their happiness, not their holiness. They want to hear that God is satisfied with semi-regular Sunday-attendance, a few cold prayers, and a half-baked faith, not that He (a great King) demands their absolute allegiance. They want to hear that God is accepting, not that He has ordained a narrow gate that leads to a narrow way.
Summary
As sinners, when we hear God’s Word, we come to a fork in the road. We face two choices: (1) we can submit to it; or (2) we can find a church that will tell us what we want to hear. There are plenty out there.
As sinners, when we preach God’s Word, we come to a fork in the road. We face two choices: (1) we can declare it; or (2) we can adapt its teaching to cater to itching ears – the opinions, sentiments, lifestyles, desires, and values of the age in which we live.
In the face of that trend, Paul charges Timothy to “preach the word.”
Quotable: “He who is in a worldly condition cannot judge spiritual realities properly” (Jonathan Edwards).
To preach is to proclaim as a herald. In ancient times, a herald was a king’s primary means of communication with his subjects. With that relationship in mind, Paul charges Timothy to be God’s herald. Interestingly, his charge follows his declaration that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, Scripture is the Word of the living God. It’s His message to His subjects. Therefore, it alone is what the preacher proclaims.
Paul proceeds to tell Timothy what his preaching must look like. In short, it must (1) evidence conviction (“be ready in season and out of season”), (2) expose sin (“reprove, rebuke”), (3) encourage obedience (“exhort”), (4) exemplify patience (“with complete patience”), and (5) emphasize doctrine (“teaching”).
Why does Paul charge Timothy to preach like this? The answer is found in verses 3–5. To sum up, people have “itching ears,” meaning they gravitate to preaching that caters to their passions. Two thousands years later, Paul’s charge is just as timely. As I survey North American evangelicalism, I see four “itches” that people want scratched…
(1) They itch for the sensational
Some people love a good conspiracy theory. Some people love novelty. Some people love controversy. As a result, they gravitate to the “new” – what they perceive as exciting. And so, they’re more interested in the identity of Gog and Magog than in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. They’re more interested in dreams and visions than in the faith once for all delivered to the saints. They’re more interested in hidden numerical codes than in the doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. They’re more interested in dooms-day theories than in the pursuit of holiness. They’re more interested in the “Da Vinci Code” than in sound historical analysis. They’re more interested in “The Shack” than in sound biblical theology. They’re more interested in “23 Minutes in Hell” than in sound biblical faith.
(2) They itch for the sensual
Some people love the spicy and saucy. Last week, Mark Driscoll sent a shock wave through the blogosphere with his new book. There was even an article on the CNN website. From all reports, his book is controversial. The book’s merit or demerit doesn’t interest me right now. (It does concern me, but not in terms of the point I’m making here.) My present concern is that people are drawn to this sort of thing. Why? We’ve witnessed a steady decline in moderation among those professing to be God’s people. As I survey the land, I find I’m asking more and more: Where’s the sense of decency? Where’s the love for wholesomeness? Where’s the desire for purity? It seems to me that, generally speaking, God’s people have become so desensitized by their close proximity to the world that they’ve lost their tender conscience. Nothing shocks them anymore. Is this a sign of sexual wholeness or sexual perversion?
(3) They itch for the sinful
Some people want others to condone their sin. This is often masked behind cries for tolerance and acceptance. The promiscuous wants to hear that what he does in private is his own business. The materialist wants to hear that his money is for his personal use. The alcoholic wants to hear that his sin is actually a physical disease. The carnal wants to hear that he can approach God however he pleases. The idolater wants to hear that he can serve God and follow his own ambitions. The legalist wants to hear that God does keep score. The idle wants to hear that some sins are mere trifles. The misogynist wants to hear that he’s exercising his God-given authority in the home. The embittered wants to hear that he has a right to be angry. The irresponsible wants to hear that someone else is to blame.
(4) They itch for the sentimental
Some people want to hear about the perfectibility of man, not the depravity of man. They want to hear that God wills their prosperity, not their adversity. They want to hear that God loves them unconditionally, not that He unconditionally commands them to repent. They want to hear that God is concerned about their happiness, not their holiness. They want to hear that God is satisfied with semi-regular Sunday-attendance, a few cold prayers, and a half-baked faith, not that He (a great King) demands their absolute allegiance. They want to hear that God is accepting, not that He has ordained a narrow gate that leads to a narrow way.
Summary
As sinners, when we hear God’s Word, we come to a fork in the road. We face two choices: (1) we can submit to it; or (2) we can find a church that will tell us what we want to hear. There are plenty out there.
As sinners, when we preach God’s Word, we come to a fork in the road. We face two choices: (1) we can declare it; or (2) we can adapt its teaching to cater to itching ears – the opinions, sentiments, lifestyles, desires, and values of the age in which we live.
In the face of that trend, Paul charges Timothy to “preach the word.”
Quotable: “He who is in a worldly condition cannot judge spiritual realities properly” (Jonathan Edwards).
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