Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-12

~N' WV " WV VOu u
themselves teachers afteh their
own lusts; and will turn away their
ears from truth, and turn aside
unto fabIes.'-II Timothy, VISA.
THAT time is at hand. This is the
day Of opportunity for the Christian
church. for in the face of conditions
such as are mentioned in our text.
Christ's army will conquer. The fact
is that the world is being inspired by
'isms' rather than Bible truths and is
rapidly coming to believe that there are
more ways to heaven than the Christ
way. More than this, some are teach
ing that there is no hell and others are
made to believe hat all the fire has
been removed from hell and that it
Is not an improved addition to the world
and a good place in which to live. Such
unsound doctrines are responsible for
the unsound conditions throughout the
world today.
"The church of Paul's day Was sub
ject ject to scandals and divisions and
when traced to their sources of origin
it was always found that those who
were making the most trouble were
following some unsound doctrine. either
of their own makeup or of the devil.
The day was saved by Paul's continu-
Gus preaching of the gospel in season
and out of season. and his e~xhortation
to the same principle among his col
leagues. He is here passing the advice
down to Timothy. who is no doubt be-
wildered at the hypocrisy among those
whom he thought could be pointed
out as high lights in the Christian
world.
A DisagreeabIe Note
"Therc was a disagreeable note in
the Christian life for some of the ppo-
pie of that day. as there is today. This
note is that sin will not mix with
righteousness any more than oil will
mix with water. This was quite q set
back for some. because the idol gods
afforded them a religion with both.
Better still, a crude knowledge Of
theosophy gave them hut little fear of
the after life. hence they were ready
to listen to any doctrine but the true
gospel teaching Of Jesus Christ.
1.-THE preaching of sin and death and
hell being conquered by Jesus Christ
and the invitation on the ground that
as many as believed on Him and de-
sired to escape the wrath to come.
would be saved, had it's desired effect
upon those who were earnestly seek
ing the Kingdom. to the extent that the
church has. is and will ever outlive
the critic and unbeliever.
paul further states to Timothy
that; having itching ears. they would
heap unto themselves teachers after
their own lusts.' The Church at
was not without the forces
that contribute to mans spiritual de-
and from his previous ex-
perience with these people Paul in
forms Timothy as to what to expect.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was too
rigid for their living. The idol gods
who saw nothing. heard nothing. said
nothing. were better suited to the sin
of the day. Their ears were ever
open for some new doctrine that would
give their conscience a rest and yet
permit them tn carry on their lusts.
as to whether it was truth
or fiction, They, in other words. were
ready to believe anything that would
let them live in sin.
GrIevous Days Shall Come
"As a result of such living Paul
says t. Timothy: but know this, in
the last days grievous times shall
For men shall be lovers of
self, lovers of money, boostful, naughty, :
d%isobedient to. parents. un-
thankful, unholy, without natural af-
implaceable, slanderers. with
out self control, fierce. no lovers Of
good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up,
lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers
Of God, holding a form Of goodness.
but having denied the power thereof.
In such q time says Paul: Oh Timothy
w. 3, A. they will not endure sound
ETC. This accounts for many