Devotion (The Trumpeter):
The cause of heresies

2 Timothy 4:3NIV

 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.  

Why are there heretic doctrines in the church? What caused it? Is the doctrine right just because it is preached from the pulpit? Is it right just because many Christians believe in that message? Why do some Christians don’t like the message I preach?

There is nothing in the church that God didn’t see coming. He saw everything and talked about it before it came. When you study your bible, especially the epistles of the New Testament, you should be conscious of the statements from the Apostles which were prophetic and not mere teaching. An example of such is the introductory verse for today’s devotional. Paul says,

“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”

Paul was an Apostle but also a prophet, the problem is that most Christians don’t fully understand who a prophet is. To the average Christian, being a prophet is limited to calling out people and speaking about their future or present condition. How many people did Moses call out to talk about their future? What about John the Baptist? How many individuals did he call out to give specific words about their life? Yet these were branded as great prophets. There are macroscopic prophets and microscopic prophets. The ones that excite most people are the microscopic prophets. Macroscopic prophets talk about future and destinies of nations, churches, groups of peoples and the world at large and such was Paul the Apostle.

He saw the future of the church and talked about it that in the last days many Christians will not like the true gospel message, they won’t put up with sound doctrines but what was going to cause this.

This was going to happen because these people will love what pleases them more than what pleases God. This has been the cause of all the wrong doctrines in the church, their wrong doctrine about money, grace, salvation and the rapture. Such doctrines please them. They don’t ask, what pleases God?  Peter didn’t want to be a martyr, he feared dying for the truth but dying as a martyr was what was going to please God.

“Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. ……..John 21:18-19NIV

Christian maturity is in heeding to and taking joy in what pleases God even though it may not be desirous to you. As long as you are after what makes you happy, you will walk in error thinking you are right and many have, including their Bishops.

He says,

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God……..2 Timothy 3:1-4NIV”

In context, Paul was not talking only about the world but about people you were going to find in the church. He says “mark it”. Mark it, for it will happen.

They will have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. They will be called Christians and Pastors, mention God’s name, go to church, sing songs of worship but will not live according to truth. Paul says, don’t company with such folks

“ Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people…….2 Timothy 3:5NIV”

He was not talking only about the world but the brother or sister you may find in church. If they will not repent, don’t company with such but pray for them

It is the same thing He told the Thessalonica church,

“Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer….. 2 Thessalonica 3:14-15NIV”

Nowadays, this is not what they do, they rather encourage the behaviour in the name of grace. Do you understand grace more than Paul?

What causes heretic doctrines? It is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. When Christians love what pleases them more than that which pleases God, it  leads to heresies.

It is very easy to walk in truth, it is very easy. As long as you are selfless and focused on Jesus, you are not going to miss the way. It doesn’t matter the miracles and healings you perform if you are focused on yourself, you will miss the way and teach your opinions and not truth.

Focus on Christ and His Word, He is the Truth.

God bless you!