Pastoral Ponderings - January 2009

Pastoral Ponderings

In Second Timothy chapter three, Paul is warning his young protégée about the difficulties in the last days. He goes on to list 17 misdeeds which signify why these difficulties will happen. It is then that Paul adds, “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…” What does it look like to hold to a form of godliness, but deny its power?

Maybe it looks like the celebrity who wears a cross around her neck and claims that all religions worship the same God. Maybe it looks like the church our grandparents used to go to where it was more about socializing than evangelizing. Maybe it's like those churches which emphasize the bible, but deny the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Maybe it's like those Christians who are all about the Holy Spirit, but are ignorant of the bible.

“[H]olding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…” What is the power of God about which Paul is talking? Certainly, our God is a god of vast and unmatched power. God's power created all that is out of nothing. God's power sent fire from Heaven. God's power drove out sickness, brought healing, cast out demons. These are certainly examples of God's power, but none of these seem to really fit with what Paul is communicating to Timothy. What is the power of God that men will deny in the last days?

Many scholars believe the answer is found in Romans chapter one verse sixteen where Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

What is the power of God which men will deny in the Last Days? It will be the gospel. Men, holding to a form of godliness, will deny the power of the gospel. Immediately, our minds go to the examples of mainline denominations who speak with references to God and love and even Jesus, but precious little is said about salvation. To them, salvation is for good people and everyone is a good person in the sight of a loving God. Certainly, these would be examples of men holding to a form of godliness, but denying its power.

      But is it possible that there is another example. One which hits closer to home? Is it possible that we, the right kind of people in the right kind of churches, could be holding to a form of godliness while denying its power? Well, certainly not intentionally. You go in most any of the “right” kind of churches and people are earnest for God and His Kingdom. There is not a lack of zeal. You'll find people busy, too busy in some cases, with the ministry of the local church. Surely, these kind of churches are the “right” kind of churches. But what are we zealous for? What is the goal of all this busyness?

      Here are issues we need to consider. We can preach impassioned sermons, but the message might be nothing more than Christianity as self-improvement. Our singing can be moving, but our praise may be for how God makes us feel. Happiness might become our indicator of His Presence rather than holiness itself. God and Jesus are still important, but is it because of how they bless us here and now? Do we think that God is not so much known as He is experienced? Are we wretched sinners deserving God's judgment and wrath? Or are we simply good people in need of a little instruction and motivation? Can our teachings and conversations be about our desires and comforts which we then cover up with words like “relevant” and “practical?”

      While these are components of the Christian's life, what seems to be lost is the fact that none of this is the gospel. As one theologian put it, “Unable to preach Christ and Him crucified, we preach humanity and it improved.” But have we lost sight of the fact that there can be no improvement unless the heinousness of sin is effectively dealt with and not only at the moment of salvation, but throughout the Christian life? Love languages, anointings, Bible studies, these have their place in the Christian life, but they are no substitute for Christ's righteousness and the Spirit-filled life.