G. THE REASON TO ENFORCE THE CHARGE:

1. Over time if the minister is not strong and does not preach the Word of God as written without personal feeling or falling into the worldly trap of trying to be politically/socially correct the church (Body of Christ) will become corrupt. During the past two decades we have seen many churches begin to accept politically/socially correct doctrine with a covering of being faithful to God over Biblical/Christian Doctrine. Some of the main stream protestant churches have even began accepting practicing Gays as spiritual leaders within their churches. This again is due to the feminizing of Jesus and the belief that He said “Love the sinner and hate the Sin” which cannot be found anywhere in the Holy Scriptures. Over the years active practicing gays have entered the church and gained high positions within the churches, along with those that falsely interpret Greek Text into English (knowing full well that 99 percent of the Christian body cannot read or will not ever learn Greek). But even more than that they also know that less than 10 percent of all Christians will ever read the Holy Scriptures therefore they can falsely state that the Bible in reference to same sex is only telling straight men or women to not engage in same sex activity  

2. Because errors and heresies were likely to creep into the church, by which the minds of many professing Christians would be corrupted (v. 4:3-4): "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Therefore improve the present time, when they will endure it. Be busy now, for it is seedtime; when the fields are white unto the harvest, put in the sickle, for the present gale of opportunity will be soon over. They will not endure sound doctrine. There will be those who will heap to themselves corrupt teachers, and will turn away their ears from the truth; and therefore secure as many as thou canst, that, when these storms and tempests do arise, they may be well fixed, and their apostasy may be prevented." People must hear, and ministers must preach, for the time to come, and guard against the mischief that are likely to arise hereafter, though they do not yet arise. They will turn away their ears from the truth; they will grow weary of the old plain gospel of Christ, and then they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them, and God will give them up to those strong delusions, because they received not the truth in the love of it, 2^nd Thessalonians 2:11-12 - And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Observe: (1.) These teachers were of their own heaping up, and not of God's sending; but they chose them, to gratify their lusts, and to please their itching ears. (2.) People do so when they will not endure sound doctrine, that preaching which is searching, plain, and to the purpose; then they will have teachers of their own. (3.) There is a wide difference between the word of God and the word of such teachers; the one is sound doctrine, the word of truth, the other is only fables. (4.) Those that are turned unto fables first turn away their ears from the truth, for they cannot hear and mind both, any more than they can serve two masters. Nay, further, it is said, They shall be turned unto fables. God justly suffers those to turn to fables who grow weary of the truth, and gives them up to be led aside from the truth by fables.

3. I am grateful that we are no longer under the Law of Moses, with its extremely harsh punishments although under the New Covenant much harsher punishments for similar unrepented crimes are simply being delayed till the Day of Judgment, cf. Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, {10:27} But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. {10:28} He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: {10:29} Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? {10:30} For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. {10:31} It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

4. As Paul wrote in Romans 7:12 - Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. And later wrote in Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Taken in its simplest form Paul is stating although we are no longer under the Law of Moses for its strict punishment we are under its moral guidance and will be required to pay the penalty at Judgment Day therefore when Paul speaks out against homosexuality he is making it very clear that homosexual conduct is “an abomination” to the Lord! 1^st Corinthians 6:9-10 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, {6:10} Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. In this passage, Paul uses two terms that are translated above as “homosexuals” and “sodomites.” The first term, translated “homosexuals” (“effeminate” in the KJV) is malakos (malakos), and is defined by Thayer as: “effeminate, of a catamite, a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness” The word translated as “sodomites” (“abusers of themselves with mankind” in the KJV) is arseennokoiittaii (arsenokoitai), and is defined by Thayer as: “one who lies with a male as with a female, a sodomite”

5. Paul’s warning not to be deceived is very appropriate even today, for some homosexual theologians would have us believe that Paul was only condemning male prostitution. Whereas the first word (malakos) does properly speak of a male prostitute, the second word (arsenokoitai) describes any sort of homosexual conduct. Despite such efforts to twist the Scriptures and deceive many, the Word of God is clear: those who continue to engage in homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God! Paul also uses the word “arsenokoitai” (the generic term for homosexual conduct) as an example of that which is: cf. 1^st Timothy 1:10-11 - For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; {1:11} According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.  Since the “sound doctrine” of the gospel of Christ condemns even sexual relations between unmarried heterosexuals, it should not be hard to understand that sex between unmarried homosexuals is wrong as well! As for “married” homosexuals, the institution of marriage which was begun and defined by God only allows for sex between a man and a woman (cf. Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.; Matthew 19:4-6 - And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, {19:5} And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6. The “classic” passage which deals with the sin of homosexual conduct is that of Romans 1:18-28. In this passage, Paul discusses the wrath of God which is directed toward those who do not honor God: Romans 1:18-23 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; {1:19} Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. {1:20} For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: {1:21} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. {1:22} Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, {1:23} And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

7. In regards to men whom God has “given up” to uncleanness, Paul writes: Romans 1:27 - And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. In similar fashion, many of those men who have been “given up” by God to uncleanness eventually leave the “natural use of the woman” and turn to other men to fulfill their lustful desires. As Paul reiterates in the next verse:  Romans 1:28 – And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

II. PREACHING THAT DISPLEASES GOD:

A. PREACHING UNSOUND DOCTRINE:

1. The time will come when some will not endure ‘sound doctrine’ - 2^nd Timothy 4:3 - 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;

a. Lit., “healthful doctrine”

b. “doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or to salvation.” - Barnes

2. Times of which Paul had already warned Timothy

a. When people will give heed to deceiving spirits - 1^st Timothy 4:1-2 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; {4:2} Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

b. When people will be lovers of self and pleasure - 2^nd Timothy 3:1-2 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {3:2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3. They will want to hear things ‘according to their own desires’ - 2^nd Timothy 4:3 - 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;

a. That justifies their sinful behavior, rather than rebukes them for it

b. When guilty of things “contrary to sound doctrine” (e.g., sodomy) - cf. 1^st Timothy 1:10 - For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

c. Not being told such things are ‘unhealthy’ to their soul (e.g., homosexuality) - cf. 1^st Corinthians 6:9-10 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, {6:10} Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

B. PREACHING TO ENTERTAIN:

1. People will have “itching ears” - 2^nd Timothy 4:3 - 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;

a. “loving to have their ears scratched and tickled with smooth things; that are pleasing and agreeable to natural men, and carnal minds;” - Gill

b. “Endless curiosity, an insatiable desire of variety; and they get their ears tickled with the language and accent of the person, abandoning the good and faithful preacher for the fine speaker.” - Clarke

c. They will love to hear even true preachers, if they are eloquent - cf. Ezekiel 33:30-33 - Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. {33:31} And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness. {33:32} And, lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. {33:33} And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.

2. They will “heap for themselves teachers” - 2^nd Timothy 4:3 - 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;

a. There will be plenty of teachers willing to accommodate them

b. People will find the teachers that please them

3. The sad result of such preaching - 2^nd Timothy 4:4 - And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

a. People “will turn their ears away from the truth”

1) The truth of God will not interest them

2) They will have no time to hear what the truth has to say

b. They will “be turned aside to fables”

1) “Believe any kind of stuff and nonsense;” - Clarke

2) “as one has justly observed, ‘Those who reject the truth are abandoned by the just judgment of God to credit the most degrading nonsense.’” - ibid.

3) Or as attributed to G. K. Chesterton: “He who does not believe in God will believe in anything.”

CONCLUSION

1. The truthfulness of the words by Clarke, Chesterton, and Apostle Paul can easily be seen today:

a. People will reject the Word of God, but believe in witchcraft, UFOs, channeling, etc.

b. People will reject the Gospel of Christ, but accept religious traditions of men

c. People reject “sound doctrine”, but accept “unhealthy teaching” that endangers body and soul

2. The problem is the type of “preaching” people want to listen to...

a. They listen to be entertained, to justify fulfilling the lusts of the flesh

b. They do not listen to be saved, to learn the way of righteousness

3. Ministers are more concern with pleasing the people and making God more manlike than teaching sound Biblical and Christian Doctrine. As for myself I would much rather go fight Satan one-on-one than to be one of those ministers (especially those that are active homosexuals) that are preaching false doctrine. Those that preach false doctrine and cause others to follow those teachings as truth will pay an extreme punishment.

4. However, just like the ministers that preach false doctrines, those that follow their teachings when they know them to be untrue will also pay an extreme punishment.

Those who dare to preach, and those who desire to hear, should make sure the preaching is that which pleases God! Have you responded in obedience to the preaching of God’s Word...? Romans 6:17-18 - But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {6:18} Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.