Original: February 10, 2008
McMinnville, OR
3 For the time will come when men 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. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 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 4:3-5
Awhile ago I gave a message to our congregation on how the rich should handle their wealth. I built my case around 1 Timothy 6:17-18 which says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
I explained that any family with a household income of more than forty-five thousand dollars a year would be in the top 1% wage earners in the world and as such should demonstrate a giving spirit! As I built my case I watched between 30-50 people get up and stomp out of the building. Now, they may have had to go to the restroom, maybe they got and urgent phone call, or their child got kicked out of Children’s Church. The look on their faces told me otherwise. It is a little unnerving however when there is an exodus during your message!
Yesterday I watched a television preacher of one of the largest churches in America speak about goal setting. Curious about what a pastor of one of the largest churches in America would say I tuned in. With his expensive suit, perfect hair, plastic smile, and clearly made up face he spoke eloquently about goals. He is a great teacher. However, it struck me that in over thirty minutes he never quoted scripture, never used Jesus’ name, and only used the word “God” twice. After listening I felt like going up to him and messing up his hair and smacking that plastic smile off his Cover Girl face! I was saddened by his words that would not qualify to be called a sermon. When he concluded his “message” his congregation roared in affirmation. Obviously, he has rock star status in his super church.
Then I wondered, would Jesus comb his black curls? Would Jesus put on make up? Would Jesus wear a suit expensive enough to feed a family for three months? Would Jesus fail to mention Jesus? I wonder if Jesus will order one of his “newest” books from his convenient 800 line. This plastic preacher epitomizes 2 Timothy 4:3, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.”
I bet the plastic preacher loves the cheers and affirmations of the crowd. I only hope he like Jesus more.
The message of Jesus, however, is not a popularity contest filled with gelled hairstyles, expensive suits, and plastic smiles. Jesus’ message is the pathway to persecution and not popularity. “Keep your head” (5) Paul told young Timothy. “Be sober (NASB)!” In other words, “preach the word” (2) and do not worry whether people walk out on you, throw curses at you, or flat out reject you. It isn’t about you anyway. It isn’t about how you look.
It is, however, about how you make Jesus look.
You can either be a man who has made the Savior some capitalistic Jell-O Jesus that he fits into his mold and speak only what other’s “itching ears want to hear” stand for the truth even if it is unpopular.
The gospel message takes endurance. It takes endurance because it is not always popular. It is, however, truth.
Keep your head.
