Every Sunday I get up and prepare to go to church to do my
best to deliver God’s truth in a way that people can understand and apply to
change and improve their lives. It is
not a task I take lightly. James 3:1
reminds me, “…that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” It is important that I get it right and seek
do my best every week. That is why I
spend hours each week in study and preparation.
II Timothy 2:15 tells me (and you), “Do your best to present yourself to
God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth.”
That is why I went through the sacrifice, expense and effort to earn Master’s
and Doctorate degrees. Lifetime change
and eternity may hang in the balance for someone each time a message preached
or heard. That is why I also urge
members of every congregation to do their best to be good listeners.
Just this week as I went about my normal routine on Sunday
morning I was having breakfast and flipped through a couple of channels on the
TV. The image of a well-known pastor
flashed across the screen. I paused to
hear what he was saying. It was a typical
‘feel-good’ message. I am continually
amazed at the number of people who flock to any speaker from pulpit or
political podium who will tell them what they want to hear or make them feel
good. I should not be surprised as 2
Timothy 4:3 says, “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.” There is growing spiritual, political and social confusion today as we love to hear what sounds good. Anyway before I get too carried
away back to my point; in just a few short minutes I was shocked to hear him
refer to a verse of scripture to make his point. My shock came, not because he used scripture, but because he misused the verse. It sounded good and helped him drive home his point but the popular speaker’s point
was the exact opposite of what the truth of the scripture actually taught when
placed in its full context.
As soon as I heard this I cried out (my wife is used to me
doing that at the TV) “That is not what the Bible teaches! It teaches just the
opposite point!” I was shocked as no one
in the congregation cried out, walked out or seemed surprised at what they
heard. In fact, the camera panned to
people applauding, nodding approval and taking notes. It sounded good, made them feel good, he is an impressive and smooth speaker, his hair looks nice. It must me true! However, it was completely false according to the truth of the scripture! No one seemed to notice or care. It is always dangerous when untruth is accepted rather than corrected. This is why it is vital to be good
listeners!
I am continually amazed as we often listen with numbed minds to preachers,
politicians, celebrities and anyone who can gain a forum. I have known enough preachers to know that most are honest and sincere but also it does not hurt to be skeptical and careful when I listen to what is being proclaimed (again eternity may hang in the balance, it is important to be careful). The amount of spiritual confusion seems to be growing. I have been around long enough to realize
that while many seek and serve as humble public servants, often a politician’s
promise is as sound as the dollar that their policies keep
inflating. And I have never figured out why we give such
credibility to the words of celebrities.
They may be attractive, rich and eloquent but they make their living primarily
from reading what others have written, being good at acting or playing a role
(we used to call that pretending when I was a kid) or being paid to say what
they say.
No matter how polished, popular or attractive the speaker
may be (by the way that lets me out) one should always listen with an objective
and educated ear. How do you do
this? Always do your homework before and
after you listen. There are many voices
out there. In the final analysis, your
life will be shaped by how you respond to what you hear. “Do your best to present yourself to God as
one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly
handles the word of truth.”
