PUTTING UP READILY WITH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL (PART II)

“The Pull of a Double-Tongued Preacher”

By Akin Ojumu

Do you often feel like some unknown tiny creatures are crawling their way around in your ears? Are you constantly battling the urge to stick your finger in your ear for a good scratch? You’re not alone. Itchy ears are a common problem that can range from mildly annoying to downright unbearable. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the causes of itchy ears, home remedies you can try, and when it's time to seek professional help. Let’s dive in and discover how you can find relief for your irritated ears.

What you just read was borrowed, almost verbatim, from the ENT & Allergy Associates, a US-based leading ENT, allergy, and audiology practice. But before your eyes glaze over and you are tempted to tune off and scroll to something more exciting, let me assure you that this commentary is not about ENT. The stuff about itching ears was borrowed from ENT & Allergy Associates because it is very relevant to the subject of this write-up.

Since the inception of Christianity, the malady of itching ears has plagued the Church. Overwhelmed and unable to resist, church folks afflicted with spiritual pruritus auris, (the medical term for itching ears), readily surrender themselves to the irresistible urge to stick a finger inside their ear for a soothing scratch.

For those wondering, “What exactly is the rabble-rouser up to this time?” Well, here is your answer.

What I’m up to is the propensity of church folks to gravitate towards false teachers and their false teachings. The alluring pull of false teachings is due to the fact that they provide what often appears as soothing to the itching ear. 

False teachers recognize that their prey have an itching ear problem, and they understand the soothing quality of false teachings. Like the opportunists that they are, they target and exploit this weakness in people to enrich themselves. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. 

2 Peter 2:3

“And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

As their proficiency at ear scratching progresses, they become more adept at micro-targeting their poisonous messages to the specific desires of their listeners. In turn, the suckers and the mark lavish the false teachers with rich rewards for doing such a fantastic job at taking them for a ride.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Apostle Paul detected this phenomenon within the Corinthian and Galatian congregations.

Galatians 1:6

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel”

2 Corinthians 11:4

“For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.”

2 Corinthians 11:4 (Amplified)

“For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception].”

Now, you may be wondering why the vast majority of church folks are so accepting of false teachers and find it difficult to denounce them for their false teachings. Well, the answer is both obvious and not so obvious. Let’s discuss them.

1) People Don’t Denounce a Teaching That Scratches Their Itching Ears

This is the obvious one. Because of the symbiotic relationship that exists between false teachers and those who consume their poison, it’s easy to appreciate the hesitancy on the part of church folks to confront the peddlers of erroneous teachings. People don’t criticize what they agree with. If someone tells you exactly what you want to hear, it’s unlikely that you’ll denounce them. 

2 Corinthians 11:4 (NLT)

“You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”

James 1:4

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”

Sweet poison tastes like honey. Double-tongued preachers often sweeten their poison with honey. A teaching that scratches an itch is not one you want to put away. On the contrary, chances are you’d defend the false teachers and denounce anyone who dares call them out. Because church folks are getting their ear scratched by the poison of the false teachers, they have vested interest in protecting the supplier of the remedy for their malady at all costs.

Micah 2:11 (NLT)

“Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!”

Psalm 55:21

“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

Proverbs 26:24-26

“Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”

This is the reason it seems impossible to extricate church folks from double-tongued predators. No matter how well-reasoned, theologically sound, and biblically accurate the argument presented, as long as it contradicts what the false teachers tells them, people who are under the beguiling spell of false teachers will turn deaf ears to it. 

Jeremiah 5:31

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?”

False teachers are enemies of Christ. Their allegiance is to their master, the Devil, and have sworn to do his bidding. They are sent on a mission to bring ruin to as many souls as they possibly could.

Romans 16:18

“For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Breaking the stranglehold of false teachers on the neck of their victims is an intractable problem and not an easy task. Except God intervenes, the prey of false teachers is forever doomed.

We’ll take it from here next time.