Meditation: Itchng Ears

I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 2 Timothy 4:1-4. See also 3:1-5

Itching and scratching is the path to power. Religious leaders and political leaders have always appealed to the desires of the people. Many believe we are living in the last days but we all agree these are perilous times.

The religious “teachers” among us are no longer our local ministers but are mega church leaders, and political operatives who use the name Christian on TV and radio to support their national goals. Jerry Fallwell has said regarding terrorists “blow them all away in the name of the Lord” Pat Robertson has called for the assassination of Venezuela’s democratically elected Hugo Chavez. And Joseph Farrah on the Christian News Network said last year “I will dedicate the next four years of my life to totally destroying Hillary Clinton.”

We have been told that there is a war on Christians but I contend there is a war for the hearts and minds of Christians. Sadly that is one war which has been going well.

I receive many forwarded e-mail messages from well meaning Christians. The topics are always the same: The poor are lazy, liberals want to destroy our nation, our founding fathers wanted our country to be completely Christian, Muslims and others are evil and we are good. Many slander people in the public eye such as Cindy Sheehan, or other peace activists and opposing political candidates. As the election in November nears, the messages and their vitriol will increase. No matter what political views one holds these are not the values of Christ.

Prayer: Help me to be persistent as I stand for the sound doctrine of love, compassion and sacrifice which you taught through Jesus your son. Help me never to seek relief of my fears or justification for my lifestyle from false teachers. May I always seek the truth and be willing to convince, rebuke and encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to remain faithful to you. -Amen

Action:
commit yourself seeking truth in the words and teachings of Jesus by reading the words in red. (Do you have a red letter Bible?)
Inform yourself about the truth so you can be as wise as a serpent but as gentle as a dove. Research e-mail messages designed to manipulate the deceive. http://www.snopes.com/religion/religion.asp is a good place to start.
Speak truth.