But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away. For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7 ASV)

The passage clearly describes the days in which we live.  Examples?  Men and women living in Biblically defined sin, yet “ordained” and appointed to leadership roles in churches and seminaries.  Whole churches laughing hysterically or clucking like chickens and claiming that it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Entire denominations supporting public education even though that education undermines its faith and makes whores of their daughters and homosexuals of their sons.  Christian counselors who became millionaires supposedly teaching parents how to raise their children, yet never advised them to leave these public schools.  And, why not?  Because money was more important than truth to them.  These serve mammon instead of God.

I, and others like me, have been sounding this warning for over twenty-five years.  Sadly, some of those who helped awaken me to the truth have now become seduced by the spirit of this age, the spirit of lies.  They have desired the acclaim of this world more than the acclaim of the Spirit of Truth.  What is this truth?

“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” said Jesus.  Jesus is the I AM of Scripture.  He embodies truth and righteousness, justice and mercy.   The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.(Psalms 119:160 ASV)  We cannot take just one verse from Scripture and say, “Ah ha!  This is the truth!”  For example, I cannot take the Levitical sacrificial laws and begin sacrificing lambs and bullocks and think that I will be accepted by God.  I have to read the book of Hebrews and understand that Jesus fulfilled these sacrificial laws.  Then I understand that my faith in his sacrifice for my sins brings me into God’s presence instead of my performance of a literal animal sacrifice. 

You see, the “sum” of God’s Word is truth, the totality of God’s Word.  Denominations began because someone gleaned a new aspect of God’s truth.  Others agreed, found it compelling, left their old church, and started a new church with God’s newly anointed pastor, prophet, or teacher.  Then that new church formed a committee, wrote down what they thought the Bible taught, and said, “this is God’s truth.   Join us if you believe it!”  So, you and I joined this or that church.  Then we who continued seeking God found that God had even more truth to reveal.  When we tried to share it with the “head” pastor or teacher, we were often rebuked or cast aside for disturbing the peace of the church.  Finally, most of us simply left the church made with men’s hands.  We are seeking the City of God, New Jerusalem, where all the stones have been prepared by God prior to even being put into their place.  We have sought the knowledge of the truth by continually abiding in Christ’s Word and we have found indeed that “the truth shall set you free.”