Today the opinions of men rather than the Word of God govern society. To speak of an absolute, unchanging standard or rule is to oppose the accepted belief that everything is relative to the situation (Situational ethics), and that our moral standard of what’s right and wrong are decided by the individual. Relativism and tolerance are the catchwords of our age as we rush head long into the descending spiral of “my opinion is as good as yours”. The resulting destruction of our society is seen lurking on every corner.

Paul describes to Timothy (2 Tim. 3:1) difficult times would come in the last days. He said, “Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to parents, malicious gossips, haters of good, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” – to name but a few.

How was Timothy told to combat such a godless time? We need to know because the method that Timothy used is the model for the Church to use today.

Unfortunately, many churches today are combating the problem of godlessness their own way. Some are becoming large entertainment centres to attract unbelievers. Some are into religious sensitivity, and are taking away any perceived barriers that might prevent unity. This means that confronting sin, preaching only one way to God and many more absolutes of Scripture must go. Still others are withdrawing further back into their traditions, not realising that their man made traditions have caused some of the problem. And still others believe signs and wonders will restore the power to the Church to combat such godlessness.

What is interesting about this passage of Scripture is that instead of exhorting Timothy to come up with something new to deal with the situation, he exhorts him in the very opposite direction.

He says, “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned” (2 Tim. 3:14).

The things Timothy had learned were Paul’s teaching (2 Tim. 3:10) and the sacred writings (2 Tim. 3:15) which amount to all Scripture (v16).

The key to combat the destruction in our times is to continue in the proclamation of the inspired Word of God, which adequately equips for every good work.

What a powerful model we have presented by Paul for the Church today. We aren’t told to combat the times by compromise, pragmatism, tradition or signs and wonders but by preaching the inspired Word of God – in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2).

We at Hickman Community Church are committed to the sufficiency of Scripture for all circumstances of life. We believe that the difficult times we live in are a direct result of walking away from the truth of God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:3,4).

We teach that the acceptance again of the absolute truth and sufficiency of God’s Word is the only answer to saving this lost generation. Paul said, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

• To make the clear teaching of God’s Word a priority at our weekly gatherings.
• To grow an all age Sunday School.
• To make the study of God’s Word a priority in our elder’s meetings.
• To call people to a greater discipline of personal Bible study, through church based training courses, and also seminars run by or supported by Hickman Community Church.
• Each person to be accountable to another for their progress and application of God’s Word in their lives. This will be achieved through the discipleship and home group structures.
• To call every member to the duty of warning and admonishing each other in their walk for the Lord (Col. 3:16).