Itching Ears

            I have a small book in my library by J. Dwight Pentecost entitled, “Things Which Become Sound Doctrine.” The fourteen chapters go from “Depravity” to “Resurrection.” Each one word chapter title cover most of the major doctrines in connection with man and with his pursuit of eternal peace with God. At a conference many years ago, the book store in which I worked set up tables that contained books for sale. This was one of the books but there were however, some titles that had to do with demons and demonology. The books about demons outsold those that were heavy on doctrine. Even in our day, people do not seem to be interested in doctrine. Second Timothy 4:3-4 says “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 

          One commentary has stated of this passage in regard to the itching ears, “like to hear teachers who give them mere pleasure (Act_17:19-21), and do not offend by truths grating to their ears. They, as it were, tickle with pleasure the levity of the multitude [Cicero], who come as to a theater to hear what will delight their ears, not to learn [Seneca, Epistles, 10.8] what will do them good.” Mainly, people don't like to be told that they are going to end up in hell if they do not respond to the Gospel message. They keep looking for a person who is going to say flowery words that don't disturb their lifestyle or one who does not offend them in any way. The very first chapter of this little book by Pentecost deal with the depravity of man. Now that's a topic that no one likes to hear about and which is quite evident in the manner in which many people live. The depravity of man has progressed to the point that they consider it quite okay to take the life of an unborn child and in some states, ignore a newborn until it dies. At the same time a man can go to jail for mistreating animals such as puppies or disturbing or destroying certain turtle eggs. Many animals have more protection than we give to human life. Even in my own area, it is unlawful to kill a buzzard since they eat all of the carcasses of dead animals. The depravity of man has also progressed to the point of immoral life styles which are condemned in the Scriptures. The average person in our country will look for someone, and anyone, that tells them pleasant things rather than the truth. We have even gone to the extreme of worshiping Satan and witches, but we decide to have a TV program about the “Good Witch.” Yes, man's depravity keeps going down further and further. The little book goes on to deal with chapters that are titled, “Grace, Regeneration, Imputation, Substitution, Repentance, Redemption, Reconciliation, Propitiation, Justification, Security, Predestination and Resurrection. These are some of the areas which give mankind hope for the future and certainly needful for a depraved mankind. All of these areas are covered in the Bible and give us hope for the future in our eternal home in heaven. As the song writer once said, “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.” May we never get tired of hearing the message of salvation. Praise God today for His doctrine.