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Biblical perspectives are timeless. The Apostle Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy, an emerging leader in the early church, these words:

“3 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. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV). Although written centuries ago, the wisdom and application speak volumes in today’s hyper-charged, hyper-divided political landscape in America.

The truth that the young church was built on was absolute, so those who wanted to destroy it attacked by perpetrating lies, half-truths, and creating dissention between the faithful. The threat to the church was not without, the threat was within.

Those not willing to accept the truth actively sought those who were willing to tell them what they wanted to hear.

Does this sound familiar? Facts don’t matter, only the narrative that fits one’s personal biased opinion is acceptable. Everything is we versus them. We will only accept and believe what our side says — no verifiable truth or facts required. Loyalty is demanded and name calling of those who may raise questions is standard and expected.

American politics today has an extreme case of inching ears. An unbelievable atrocity is broadcast live to the world. Within days, itching ears are convinced that the perpetrators are actually the victims.

Winning at all costs is so important that you can’t trust what you see. Institutions that have served us well for generations cannot be trusted. Itching ears are all too eager to hear what they want to hear.

When confronted in a court of law regarding extreme false statements, the defense was that no reasonable person would conclude that those bizarre  statements were truly statements of fact, yet, the falsehood lives on. Truth doesn’t change and doesn’t have to be explained. If you find yourself constantly grasping for any “news” article, video, documentary, or daily revelation to bolster your position, you may have itching ears.