"I believe that God wants to bless you tonight!" you were flipping through the channels and then you hear this rather impassioned statement.  "Cool," you think, sitting back, "I believe that God wants to bless you!  All that you have to do is call and make your pledge of $100 or $1,000'" *click* "Man," you think, "all those Christians want is money!"

   2 Timothy 4:2-4  (Verse 2) Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

   Alrighty then, now that my soapbox is all primed and ready, allow me to clarify what in sanity's name I'm trying to say. Look back up at the verse (really, I'll wait for you!), see that word doctrine? Paul is not talking about the different denominational doctrines (i.e.- Baptist, Assembly of God, Lutheran...etc.), he could have used the word tidings (tidings- news); simply put "with all longsuffering and news"- or good news. Now, I ask you, what do we "Christianologists" know "good news" as? Give up? The Gospel! So, Paul could've put "with all longsuffering (longsuffering- patient, not easily provoked) and Gospel (good tidings/news)." Moving right along. . .

   (Verse 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;
   (Verse 4) and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.

   Ok, (time- convenient or due season.) "What does that have to do with anything?!" you ask. Keep goin'. "will come, when they," Okay, stop! Who's "they" I would like to know- the world?! No, "they" means the wonderful, on-fire "church". "Will not endure sound (sound- firm, solid; wise, reliable; valid) doctrine (there's that word again); but after their own lusts (lust- any passionate desire; passionate- inspired by strong emotion) shall heap to themselves teachers; having itching ears."

   So, in a certain time people are going to choose certain "Christian" messages that tickle their ears rather than glorify the God who breathed the universe into existence. The same God that sent His only Son to walk this earth and die a horrendous death on a wooden cross; blatantly exposed for all to see for over six hours- to rise on the third day just so you and I could approach this awesome, holy God.

   I'm not trying to scare anyone, I just want to encourage anyone who has the patience to read this article to check every "thus saith the Lord" against the written version of God's words that we like to call the Bible. You know, it's actually a very scary thing to add to, take away from or isolate the written word of God. So be careful who you listen to. No matter how good it sounds. And always, always compare it with the Scriptures.

   God's word - no more, no less, just interpretations through the Holy Spirit, period.