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A lot of Christians have had our faith challenged by the behavior of many in the Church in the era of Trump. And I’m not talking about how people voted. I’m talking about being okay with all of his behaviors and actions. Then defending it. Then celebrating it.
God’s Word does not tell us who to vote for. It doesn’t even address secular concepts like political ideology. But it tells us a lot about what to expect as we how mankind will behave as we get closer to the end of the age.
It says people will become irrational and stubborn.
“For the time will come when people 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.”
(2 Timothy 4:3)
“For the time will come when people 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.”
(2 Timothy 4:3)
In general, things will be bad.
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,”
(Matthew 24:10-12)
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,”
(Matthew 24:10-12)
There will be no shortage of false teachers. And they’re going to not only fool a lot of people but will cause damage the reputation of the Church.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.”
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.”
“They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”
“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
(2 Peter 2:1-3)
(2 Peter 2:1-3)
This passage, in the Amplified Bible, says a lot about what to expect.
“But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].
“But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].
“For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane],”
“irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, “
“holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.
(1 Timothy 3:1-5, Amplified)
(1 Timothy 3:1-5, Amplified)
The 2 Timothy passage does end with a note of optimism in verse 9.
“But they will not get very far, for their meaningless nonsense and ignorance will become obvious to everyone, as was that of Jannes and Jambres.”
“But they will not get very far, for their meaningless nonsense and ignorance will become obvious to everyone, as was that of Jannes and Jambres.”
But here’s the bottom line. While it is discouraging to see all of this stuff going on and can be challenging for our faith, it’s actually a reason to trust God’s Word more than ever.
Because all the stuff He says will happen is happening right in front of us!
Because all the stuff He says will happen is happening right in front of us!
So, while it sucks to see the world - and some of the church - deteriorating before our eyes, we’re seeing some things happen that God says is going to happen. We probably shouldn’t be surprised. And we need to keep studying and believing His Word.
