When Godliness Isn't Godliness
There have always been, and likely will continue to be, those who obsess over end times, and I choose the term, “obsess” with intent. I’m not talking about those who watch attentively, study eschatology, and then live and let live. Rather, I have noted an increase in the heat surrounding discussions of those obsessing from varied camps espousing one viewpoint over another. Some discussion participants have gone far as to declare that believing inaccurate eschatological doctrine is a salvation issue which will result in one being punted from the family of God. That declaration, alone, is enough to call such a person’s judgment into question.
I am intentional about avoiding involvement in these eschatological skirmishes because, in my mind, what’s going to happen is going to happen and nothing I believe about it, rightly or wrongly, is going to change what’s going to happen. The key is to be ready, because we do not know when the bridegroom will return for his bride.
While I don’t obsess over last days, I do recognize that scripture speaks of them, and any topic scripture addresses is a topic worthy of our consideration. Jesus criticized the Pharisees and Sadducees for their inability to interpret “the signs of the times.”1 Jesus was denouncing their pressing him for a “sign” by saying they couldn’t read a sign if he gave them one.
Paul, and Last Days
Let’s consider some “signs” offered by the apostle Paul.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
– 2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV
Reading that list, and looking at current-generation western society, the alignment is borderline depressing. I see all of that! But there is something I want you to see in what Paul just described. That list of filth Paul spewed onto the page of his letter to Timothy was written about people claiming, or pretending, to be in the church! Note, they have the appearance of that godliness.
There are two unflattering descriptions made of the people portrayed above, and they come at the close of the list. As if the first nineteen disparagements were not enough. Paul says (1) they have an appearance of godliness, and (2) they deny the power of godliness.
Appearing Godly
In saying they appear godly, Paul uses the term μόρφωσις, morphōsis. I love the way Wiesinger describes morphōsis as the absolute antithesis of something with substance.2 It is the storefront from an old western movie with nothing behind it. It is a façade, a fake. It is possible to meticulously follow forms of godly service while neglecting the very essence of true godliness.
Having put on their front of godliness but denying its power, these actors have engaged in a conscious, decided rejection. Note, they did not miss the power, as if by mistake. They actively denied it. It is difficult to read this and not think of the similarities to the false prophets Jesus describes in Matthew’s gospel.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
– Matthew 7:15, ESV
This is no accident. These charlatans know exactly what they are doing.
Run Away
It looks like a sheep, but it is a starving wolf looking for dinner. It looks like a godly man or woman, but is a backless image with nineteen horrific, sinful descriptions tied to it. Paul says we are to turn away from such people. He didn’t say we should try to reason with them, or to help them see the error of their way. Give them the widest possible berth!
We get a hint of the seriousness of Paul’s admonition when we see an almost opposite admonition for another category of erring individual. Consider this charge taken from the previous chapter of the same letter to Timothy.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
– 2 Timothy 2:24-26, ESV
Discernment
Paul’s differing directives require discernment and decisive responses. On the one hand, we are to gently, patiently teach and correct, not friends who are messing up, but opponents. On the other hand, we are to recognize the veneer pretense of those want us to believe they are godly, when the reality is they are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Completely avoid such people.
1. Matthew 16:3
2. Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., & van Oosterzee, J. J. (2008). A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1 & 2 Timothy. (p. 104). (E. A. Washburn & E. Harwood, Trans.). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software. (Original work published 1870)
