THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE.
By A. R. Sandborn
"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; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4:3, 4. The following statements clipped from the Bay City (Mich.) Times reveal to what extent this scripture is true:— "If a preacher does not exaggerate he will have no audience. I make the plea for pulpit exaggeration." So said the Rev. W. M. Lawrence, of the Second Baptist Church, in the course of a lecture to University of Chicago divinity students. "Exaggeration in the pulpit is entirely allowable," declared the Rev. Mr. Lawrence. "If the modern minister stated things as they actually are, people would not listen to him. I do not give this as an apology for lying, but it is a fact that the audiences of to-day demand sensationalism. They want to be impressed by big and extraordinary things; and the preacher must supply this demand. This necessitates exaggerated statements. The audience is attracted to them, discounts them, and accepts them at their real worth, while without the exaggeration, they would never have noticed them." "The minister who understands the psychology of the crowd can easily see how exaggeration governs a multitude. The swaying of a crowd in different ways illustrates the power of unionism and clubs. The congregation succumbs to this government, and really loves to be mastered." We are truly living in perilous times when such a thing as this is advocated by the ministry of the land. God says, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Jer. 6:14. They would proclaim that which would please the people instead of bringing them to a knowledge of sin. A minister in Cleveland was asked if he believed what he preached; he answered, "No." When asked why he did as he was doing, his answer was, that he preached as he did, and received three thousand dollars a year, when if he preached what he believed, he would not get over five hundred. In this time of exaggeration, deception, and strong delusion we would do well to heed the admonition of God as recorded in Jer. 7:16. He says to us: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest to your souls." It is the good old way of the Bible that will give rest to the soul, the foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. Then we will not be ashamed of the truth even tho it brings us to the fiery furnace, or the lions' den. Sound doctrine will not be endured by the majority, because it is not pleasing to the human ear. Sad indeed it is when the pulpit, dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel, is willing to defile its holy position, and occupy a plane on a level with the world. On account of this condition we are facing the events brought out in Isa. 24:5, 6. "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left." May we walk in the good old paths, and enjoy sound doctrine—walking in all the ways of God's commandments that we may be among the few that are left by the great conflagration that is about to burst upon the earth.