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Paul opens this 4th chapter with a statement that the spirit clearly says that in later times, (in the last days), some will abandon the faith and teach such things as forbidding marriage and certain foods. Well what do you make of that? I just wish I'd got last week's chapter and Mike could have had this one.! When I was very much younger and living in London, I used to go to Hyde Park Corner on a Sunday afternoon and preach my heart out to passers by. As I preached there was a particular guy who would stand at the back, of the crowd who came mostly to heckle, on a rainy day and no crowd he would just stand in front of me, he wore an encouraging smile ….. and a sandwich board, ….not inviting anyone, who would, to go to McDonalds but claiming very boldly "The end is neigh" and on the back "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand".. I was embarrassed to have him around because people ridiculed 'him' & I did not want to be a part of that ridicule. But what he presented was never the less the truth .. perhaps not very subtle, not well argued! and what he proclaimed on a sandwich board I also proclaim to you to day We live in the last days But let me first explain what is meant by later times or last days. Time in the total span of the church age is divided into three distinct eras. The past times, which is from the creation, through the prophets & the OT; the second era is the time of Jesus Christ, when the plan of Salvation was put into place, and then the present age, the end times. We live in those last days. It was Jesus who drew the defining line, between past and last days, affirmed by these words which must be so familiar to so many of you ".. and did institute and in His Holy gospel commanded us to continue a perpetual memory of that His precious death, until His coming again: It is in these days that the availability of salvation is still being offered to each of us as the world awaits His coming; For some these are days of expectant longing, a looking forward with eager anticipation. … for others it is a dreaded day, not of salvation but judgement. And for others it's just an old wives tale, a fairy tale, and a story, which in some unenlightened age was used to frighten ignorant people to become churchgoers. However Paul's intent, as led clearly by the Spirit of God, is to alert the reader to day of what has already begun to take place. We live in those later times, and many joke about it, ridicule it, but that will not lessen the day. Kierkegaard, tells the parable of a theatre where a variety show was proceeding. Each show being more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward he apologises for the interruption and tells them that the theatre is on fire and begs them to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience think this is the most amusing turn of the evening and cheer thunderously, again and again the manager implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it. "and so" concluded Kierkegaard "will our age go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators" We are given many clues as what to look out for in the days. And I have to say that Paul's warnings do not reveal any new insights, it seems to me that in each age the same errors just manifest themselves anew, and it is the responsibility of Bible believing Christians to 'point these things out which is the responsibility of a good minister of Christ Jesus vs. 6. My responsibility therefore is to expose these old errors in the light of to day's events, to bridge the gap between Paul's writing to Timothy in about AD 65 and it's relevance to us today. After all if scripture has no relevance to us today what's it point? So what evidence is there to demonstrate that we are
in the last days? First Abandoning the faith; (ii) unhealthy interest in cults & superstition (iii) an insistence on a legalistic lifestyle. Abandoning the faith is not simply a mistake or being temporarily misled, but it is the decision to abandon, to turn purposely away from the truth of Scripture. This may be relevant in view of the current disruption caused by the impending appointment of Rowan Williams. The tension appears to be around two issues, homosexuality and the authority of scripture. There is a view that Dr. Williams approach to homosexuality is not scriptural, that his view of the Bible is not orthodox. If a church leader demonstrates a fundamental reliance on Scripture then I for one am for them, if there is doubt about that, then I can only refer to the Bible where I am told that leaders are appointed by God and it is our duty, having made any of our fears our fears plainly known, to pray. So I urge you then, first of all to please pray for Dr.Rowan Williams, his ministry and his family. And if this issue with Dr Williams is an issue of abandoning the faith, how are we to know, how are we to be sure what is the truth & what is error? Well simply I say this. The only way Christians can ever distinguish between truth and error is through the inspired word of God, the Bible, studied and prayed through. For those who would claim if we adhere to some of the scriptural laws then we should adhere to the OT ones too, may I refer them to Article V11 of the 39 articles I believe that the Bible remains the test of orthodoxy for all who claim to be of God or speak of God's ways, I believe that all teaching and doctrine must be judged against a faithful understanding and expression of the message of God in Scripture Oh, say some it's Ok for you who are theologically trained,( LR'S) what about those who haven't the gifts to study the Bible? You do not have to be Theo.trained to learn sound doctrine We have two Bible studies each Wednesday one in the Ridley Chapel and the other at the Vicarage. One hour in the week to develop your understanding of the faith that you profess. We are a church that teaches God's truth clearly and emphasise major doctrines, we try and avoid a dogmatic attitude about things that matter less and stress love (1) as the goal of God's commands, and in this way we are able to deal with false teachings (1) Just listen to Jesus' words from Matt 22 Love God with all that you are, love your neighbour as yourself. All the law & the prophets hang on these two commands Moving onto to the second issue an unhealthy interest in cults or the opposition of God centered living. Beliefs and practices that were usually only confronted by overseas missionaries a few generations ago are now found through out Europe and North America. A new generation of Westerners Are looking for & turning to another form of spirituality, to Buddism to T.M. to mother Earth , & New age philosophies, this corresponds to the view expressed by Paul in this particular verse an evil which activity blinds people to the truth and persuads them to embrace error. An example, which you will all be familiar with, and probably accept as the norm, is the effect of a philosophy of pluralism and postmodernism. ( explain, no meta narrative, no over arching truth; example of soap operas, their reference is confined to their small world / environment as they acknowledge no bigger story other than their own. A case of each doing what is right in their own eyes.) As a Christian I believe in one God who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again who is the only way of salvation. There is no other route. That is THE truth. If any religion does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as God and the only way to God, it is in error. I am clear & convinced of that. The problem with my position is that, for many there is no absolute truth, and to claim that there is, is to be intolerant and arrogant. To days philosophy claims that I should learn to recognise that there are many ways to God & that Christianity is but one of many ways, for there are many truths. And some would claim that I am denying the very fundamental Biblical imperative that we must love one another! My only response to this claim is that I do not hate nor despise nor to go to war against them. I do not cease to love anyone just because they do not believe as I do. And one of the ways I may express my love is to pray for them. To use that most powerful of gifts from God .... PRAYER ….. Toleration of course is not always the kindest nor helpful of approaches. Ask any teacher, parent or leader. As far as the church is concerned if it accepts divergence at every level it will soon render the church totally irrelevant. Finally an insistence on a legalistic lifestyle forbidding marriage and certain foods.. This is tricky… Marriage and food relate to the two most basic appetites of the human body, sex and hunger. They are both natural appetites too, although both can be abused and degenerate into lust and greed. Paul warns Timothy that those who would argue that sex and hunger are in them self's evil appetites and that the only way to holiness is by abstinence are theologically and morally wrong. He argues 'how can anyone forbid what God has instituted? By what authority can anyone command the rejection of certain foods, when God has created them to be received with thanksgiving? Marriage and food and all other gifts created by God are good, and are to be received with thanksgiving. Of course there are some things, which we have corrupted, misused, abused or have rendered dangerous and these should not be imbibed or accepted. Examples of the tobacco plant along with the poppy and grain are perfect creations, misused they can be dangerous. The same argument may be used by homosexual Christians, who will say " I'm gay because God made me that way" But is this not so, God created 'male and female' with heterosexual marriage as the intended consequence. It is no more appropriate to celebrate homosexuality than anything else that is a result of the fall from God's perfect creation. Time has gone, I must now end, All that we receive, be it food relationships, even leaders we accept as from God with thanksgiving, prayer and the word of God.. through this all things are sanctified, even the most secular of things. For everything God created is good
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