Question: Some members of our new Bible study group really like that our teacher only teaches us positive and happy lessons. Should I be concerned we’re not being taught the other lessons in the Bible?

Answer: Yes. While it’s natural that most people prefer to hear things that are easier to accept or things that only make them happy, Believers must learn to listen to the entire content of God’s Holy Word. And just as Jesus Christ directed His disciples to do as part of The Great Commission, we are to study the Word to receive all of God’s teachings.

Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus as saying to His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (NKJV) Jesus wants us to know all the teachings of the scriptures He has left for us!

It’s important that we understand the whole of God’s Word so that we won’t be surprised or confused when things still go wrong or make us unhappy in our lives. By learning the entirety of God’s Word, we’ll know that bad things can and probably will happen to us even after we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We’ll learn that we still sin. That’s why we need to accept Jesus as our Savior. Since we are not perfect, we cannot save ourselves and make ourselves worthy to enter Heaven.

Many people don’t want to learn the entirety of God’s Word because then they’ll have to face the fact the Bible teaches us we must repent of our sins! We read that we must turn from our sinful ways in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. And the truth is, most people don’t want to stop their sinning. Therefore, they don’t want to hear preachers and teachers who tell them about scriptures that reveal these truths.

So instead of listening to sound doctrine, these people seek out preachers and teachers who tell them only about the scriptures they want to hear. For example, most people don’t mind being told to help the poor or that they should be kind to each other. But these same people might get upset when presented with scriptures that show they shouldn’t cheat on their taxes or have sex outside of marriage. They may not like hearing these teachings even though both sets of teachings are true according to God’s Word!

The Bible warns us there will be people like this. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells the young preacher Timothy, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

But we must not give in to those who have itching ears. Instead, we must follow the the directive Paul gives to Timothy in verse 2 of the same chapter. He commands Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” (NKJV)

So Christians, please remember: It’s not about if a Bible teacher’s lesson pleases us — it’s about if that Bible teacher’s lesson pleases God! Therefore, seek out preachers and teachers who present the entirety of God’s Word truthfully!