Dear Friends in Christ,

Eugene Peterson’s translation of the Bible in contemporary language entitled “The Message” renders a section of Paul’s letter to Timothy this way: “You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food – catchy opinions that tickle their fancy” (2 Timothy 4: 3-4)

Tickling one’s fancy with attractive, soothing and comfortable yet deviant teachings having little relationship to solid biblical truths is very much in vogue in the western world today. The Gnostic heresy of the early church days was certainly a tickling attraction at the time and found a popular following. New Age is a modern day heretical teaching which also tickles ones fancy by seeming to suggest that we are really gods with the innate human potential for our own personal transformation. How drastically different is that basic call of Jesus to a life of authentic discipleship – not cheap grace but sacrificial costly grace. It’s not a call to self glory but to self denial, daily cross bearing and faithfully following our Lord and his teaching at whatever cost as a modern day disciple. It is also discovering that they joy of our Lord is our strength in daily living.

Post-modernism thinking would also seek to convince us in this third millennium that the final and ultimate determining factor in all things is love. As noble as that may sound, when confronted with sin, such an accommodating gospel seems to be declaring from a compassionate heart that we must bless the sinners no matter what the lifestyle they may choose to live. Unfortunately, that too is a gospel which “tickles the fancy” of many today, but I see such teaching as a gross violation of solid biblical prohibitions and certainly not pleasing to God.

In the current drift away from Christian orthodoxy and the adoption of an all too popular viewpoint that there are no longer any moral or biblical absolutes, we do well to hear again what Paul also wrote to Timothy in his second letter. This is how “The Message” puts it: “God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so claim the Message with intensity: keep on your watch. Challenge, warn and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Keep it simple” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Now does that tickle your fancy? I hope so!

In this pluralistic age, my brothers and sisters, when we are being daily confronted with devious voices attempting among other things to convince us that Jesus is just one among many who can save us, let’s avoid such “spiritual junk food” and hold fast to the sustenance of the Gospel in claiming the uniqueness of Jesus as Lord and Saviour of this world. Let’s keep that message truly alive.

Blessings,

- Bishop Malcolm Harding.

Bishop Malcolm is the ambassador of ARM Canada and was formerly the Episcopal bishop of the diocese of Brandon.
He can be reached at 204-726-5738, E-mail: mharding@mts.net

The Rt. Rev. Malcolm Harding
Episcopal Visitor to ARM