By the pride of human wisdom, by contempt for the influence of the Holy Spirit, and by disrelish for the truths of God's word, many who profess to be Christians, and who feel competent to teach others, will be led to turn away from the requirements of God. Paul declared to Timothy, "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Ved stolthed over menneskelig klogskab, ved foragt for Helligåndens påvirkning og ved ubehag ved sandheden i Guds ord vil mange, der hævder at være kristne, bringes til at vende sig bort fra Guds krav. Paulus sagde til Timoteus: "Der kommer en tid, da de ikke vil finde sig i den sunde lære, men for at leve efter deres egne lyster skaffe sig lærere i hobetal, efter hvad der kildrer deres øren, og de vil vende øret bort fra sandheden og vende sig til fablerne."