2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the Power thereof.

 

In the days of the early Church, believers in Jerusalem were not overly open about their faith in Christ due to the persecution they faced on a daily basis from the Jews. However, the Church in Antioch was the exact opposite! Believers in Antioch were very open about their faith and spoke of Jesus everywhere. They were a very vocal group and because of this, they were given the name, Christians, which means followers of Christ. And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

 

In many countries around the world today, Christian Churches are underground. They meet in secret places due to the persecution they face in the open. This is prevalent in Islamic countries and those ruled by Communism like China.

 

In America and other free nations of the world today, millions of people proclaim to be Christians but do not live a Christian lifestyle at all. Some say they are Christians merely because they live in America. Others claim to be Christians because their grandmother (or another family member) was a Christian. Many people today believe they are Christians because they go to a Church building or volunteer in a soup kitchen or some sort of community project.

 

None of these things makes anyone a Christian and if you met them on the street, their language and actions would lead you to believe otherwise. The Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy about people in this category. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its Power. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

 

After describing the actions of these fake Christians, Paul wrote And from such people turn away. He went on to say, For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the Truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:5-9)

 

A tee shirt or a bumper sticker does not make one a Christian. Nor does weekly attendance in a Church or hours spent volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. As a well-known Evangelist once said, “You can spend a month living in a garage, but you will not emerge a car.”

 

Christianity is a lifestyle. When a person is truly Saved and born again, their lifestyle will change. They will become a new creation in Christ and their words and actions will proclaim that Christ is their Lord and Savior not just on Sunday but every day, all day long.

 

True faith in Jesus will……….turn the tide………..in this world.

 

Thank you Lord for the Truth of Your Word,         Doreen

 

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