A FORM OF GODLINESS!

A FORM OF GODLINESS!

2 Tim 3:1-5

3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

           Why do we see such corruption in our world today even among professing Christians? Their behavior can be found in verses 2 and 3. They are selfish, pompous and irreverent. They are undisciplined, rebellious and disrespectful. Yet they cling tenaciously to their cloak of religion and react in mock horror at any suggestion that they are less than the best kind of Christian. These take the lead in churches and religious organizations so that their followers become even more grotesque in their piety than themselves.

           The phrase “having a form of godliness” begs a closer look. The Greek word for “have” means “to hold.” I get the idea from the language that one may hold something loosely so that it may be occasionally put down again. I don’t want to hold a system of belief. I want to be held by it!

           The Greek word for “form” is morphosis and means “appearance or semblance.” I get the idea from the particular construction of this word that the form of worship held by these irreverent followers of faith is actually a cover or façade.

2 Tim 3:5

5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT

Three things are needed to combat being swept up by this system of worship which is only a shell. Constant vigilance and personal inspection is needed to insure that these three things are part of our character. They are…

1. INTEGRITY!

           There must be a congruency between what we profess and what we practice! Find yourself a trusted partner and give that person permission to challenge you whenever they see a discrepancy between your faith and the facts of your behavior. Perhaps another word would be “authenticity!”

2. SIMPLICITY!

           The Amish celebrate “plainness.” Without adopting their extremes, perhaps we should adopt their simplicity.

Ps 131:1

131:1 A Song of degrees of David.

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

3. INNOCENSE!

Matt 18:3

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

           Children are free from the avarice and ambition that we adults have developed through the years. They are as happy with a handful of pretty gravel as they are with a handful of gold nuggets. They have not lost the wonder of a sunrise nor have they polluted it with industry. In Christ’s economy the most distinguished Christian is the one most humble.

Dear Father, keep me from becoming inconsistent in my faith. Let me not become a phony. Keep me simple and real. AMEN