Having a form of godliness...

This verse addresses the issue of false godliness and its friends in the last days. If you don't believe we're there yet, have a look at our friends at http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/...

2 Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Let's list 'em
1. self love (breaking 1st commandment)
2. covetousness (wanting things that belong to others & breaking 10th commandment)
3. boasting
4. pride
5. blasphemy (breaking 3rd commandment)
6. disobedience to parents (breaking 5th commandment)
7. unthankfulness
8. unholiness (kind of the opposite of what we're going for here)
9. no natural affection
10. truce-breaking
11. false accusing (breaking 9th commandment)
12. incontinence (no control over themselves)
13. fierceness
14. despising of what is good
15. betrayal
16. headiness (rashness/recklessness)
17. highmindedness (conceit, insolence, inflated with pride)
18. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (breaking 1st commandment)

Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.

So we've nearly got 20 signs that scream at us "turn away from these people!!!"

But while most of these warning signs speak for themselves, it is the last one (of principle interest to us) which carries some mystery with it.

There are people out there that appear godly or exhibit some of the characteristics of eusebeia, while denying the power of it. With the rise of initiatives like Live Aid and Make poverty history, we see an atheist (Geldof) and a Christian cum pluralist (Bono)* leading a movement of people fulfilling the obligation of the just to feed the poor and tend to the needy, while denying the God that proclaims these virtues. Contrary to what some may believe, in doing these things outside service to God, the value of them is destroyed. As Isaiah penned for his Lord, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (64:6).

Similarly we have cultic groups who make a better effort at standing against worldly corruption than certain churches. Others have greater evangelistic zeal and success. They have a resemblance of godliness based on their deeds and resistance to the world, yet they are enemies of the Christ that produces true godliness.

And of course there are those who exhibit the features listed above in secret or select company, yet have an air of constructed godliness or holiness about them in other situations. Watch out for them and turn away! See Spurgeon for more on the perils of this issue: http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols34-36/chs2088.pdf

But above all, let's make sure we don't get numbered among them...



*As a fan of u2 over the years, it saddens me to dscribe Bono in this manner, however I find it to be the unfortunate truth and need to highlight the fact that his "Muslim/Christian/Jew - all true" slogan is ultimately a confession to a severe lapse in true Christian faith