Turning Off and Tuning Out

“False teachers, like owls, hate daylight.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Whooo… whooo… whooo….

Last year, we had a family of owls living in one of the trees in our RV and manufactured home community and it was a real joy watching them soar through the air and listening to them hoot at night. We especially enjoyed watching their babies grow, spread their wings, and take flight.

Sadly, the owls didn’t return this year, maybe because when all the “snowbirds” flew south for the winter there was too much commotion. I’m guessing that owls like a little more peace and quiet than Midway Estates was offering that time of year.

In any case, owls are true creatures of the night. Sure, you may see or hear them occasionally during the day, but it is at night when they really get active and let their hair – I mean feathers – down. Because of the stereoscopic nature of their forward-facing eyes, owls have a greater sense of depth perception necessary for low-light hunting. Pity the poor mouse, rabbit, or squirrel who ventures too far from its nest at night because owls have feathers that are specially designed for silent flight as well as sharp talons to snatch their unsuspecting prey.

In today’s quote, Charles Spurgeon compares nocturnal owls to false teachers because when the true light of Scripture falls upon their faulty doctrine, they are exposed for the shysters and charlatans they truly are. Both Peter and Paul warned us to beware of such men and women in direct and unflattering terms.

In other words, when Joel Osteen, Joyce Myers, Benny Hinn, or Kenneth Copeland come on the air, turn them off and tune them out.

“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (BSB)

“Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.” 2 Peter 2:1-3 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President