First Century Christianity

For 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 to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

2 Tim 4:3-4 (NASB)

Paul writes of a prophecy where the people will accumulate teachers in accordance to their own desires. The word accumulate indicates a plurality. The people want to be stroked, like a cat, for doing what is right in their eyes, not in God’s sight.

What happened to the prophets who told people what Yahweh wanted them to hear instead of what they wanted to hear? It did not go well for them to say the least. Many of them were even killed outright.

But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, and cast Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who had admonished them so that they might return to You, and they committed great blasphemies. Neh 9:26 (NASB)

This has happened many times in the past. In 1 Samuel 8 the people rejected God as their King and demanded a human king. Yahweh even had Samuel try to talk them out of it by illustrating the burdens a king would lay upon them, but they would not listen. When Moses went up to get the Law, the people coaxed Aaron, their spiritual leader, to make them idols and lead them in debauchery. Most famously, the people demanded the murderer be released from prison so that the Messiah would be crucified. Each time the people just wanted to hear what they wanted to hear.

This same theme is occurring today. The former head coach of Penn State recently passed away. He had led that team to many victories, but had been covering up horrific crimes committed by his assistant. I pray he repented prior to his passing. But the people do not remember his sins which were recently uncovered. They only remember the glory he brought to their school. The flags are at half staff for a man who covered up the rape of children.

This is also occurring in our political arena. A man with a laundry list of ethical and moral problems in the past just won the GOP primary in South Carolina. South Carolina used to be considered “the Bible belt” and it would be unheard of for anyone with the problems of Newt Gingrich to even think about running for election there. But at a recent debate Newt got cross with the moderator for calling him out on his adulterous past. A repentant man would have answered the charge with remorse in his voice, but Newt responded with indignation! You see, the GOP primary voters don’t like the left wing media and that moderator represents the left wing media. Getting in a dig at the media is apparently more important to SC voters than choosing one of the other three candidates who have been faithfully married to their first and only wives for decades and have not been publicly fined for ethics violations.

The Gingrich and Paterno phenomena are quite bothersome. As Christians we should certainly forgive these men their past sins, as horrific as they may be. That does not mean we need to honor or exalt them or their memories, though. Let’s take care that we fight the urge to have our ears tickled and make choices on who our leaders will be with a sober and clear mind. Keep in mind, also, the requirements for leadership in the New Testament

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become  conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with  those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Tim 3:1-7 (NASB)