2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:2-4 CSB)
Because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
Sound familiar? This was written so long ago but it still holds true today. People itch to hear what edifies their desires and beliefs. They no longer tolerate sound doctrine and seek to denounce anyone who disagrees with their point of view, their point of world view especially.
Due to this we have to stand firm and heed the advice of the first line of our scripture. We must find ways to preach the Word through our deeds and our words. We cannot do this only when it is convenient for us but we must be ready “in season and out of season”. Meaning there is no out of season for God’s word.
Great patience is required for all of the above. I am one to get easily frustrated with people and as such I can be quick to debate topics I am passionate about. But we (I) must practice patience with others on this front. Now patience does not mean that I must tolerate wrong thing, for we must be cautious as what we accept we allow. There is great danger in that last statement. Standing firm in our faith against wrong doctrine is so very needed in today’s society. If not we quickly become simply another broken part of a broken world.
But when we stand firm we gain great strength in God, even in the face of great opposition from the world around us.
