In Denial

The Word describes the final days of this world in such a way that it can pull your brain into a dark spiral for weeks. So it's interesting that when Paul says, “difficult times will come” – “terrible times” in the new NIV – he's making no references whatsoever to cataclysms or judgment. But what could possibly be more terrible? Answer: a society full of people who care little for God or each other; who obsess instead about self, about the things of this world, and who are unrestrained.

1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Avoid these kind of people. 2 Tim 3:1-5

I think you would agree that all the basic pieces of this description are already in place, yes? So much so that we almost accept it as a given. Nevertheless, I'm NOT inviting you to the next online lament over the present state of our society; I'm inviting you instead to consider the power that can change it... before it intensifies.

First, let's identify these people who make for difficult times: they are people who ”hold to a form of godliness.” This means that they speak and practice things outwardly that seem to say: "Jesus is resident in my life" inwardly. Sounds good! But even Hitler made a show of going to church on occasion, and it's historically tragic that many Germans assumed the best about him because of this... which highlights the very problem: having a “form” of godliness is an unreliable indicator of true Christianity.

Yet it's the one we're always looking to. Make a conversational reference to Jesus or even just to spirituality, do a good deed once in awhile, be polite at the critical moments, make regular appearances at church, give credit to God for the touchdown, donate to a worthy cause, etc, and everyone will be satisfied. How stupid of us. A form, whether it's a paperwork form, or a form for pouring concrete, is something that has to be filled-in. By itself, it's nothing; just an empty template with an unfulfilled purpose. The power isn't in the form, but in the completion of its purpose; and even the template for godliness is no exception to this rule.

Think of houses you've seen that are under construction, designed and framed-in, but w/o walls, floors, roof, plumbing, wiring, fixtures, etc. The form may be perfect, but certainly, no one's going to move in yet! Spiritually-speaking, then: have you prepared, maintained, and improved the residence you've asked Jesus to move into (your heart & motivations, your life), or are you continually asking Him to camp out on your under-developed property for just one more day? Are you merely inviting Him, or are you actually accommodating Him through the efforts you invest?

Note that denying the power of godliness isn't the same thing as denying the miraculous power of God. It is, however, the same as denying the transformative power of God. Miracles are outward. Transformations are inward. God speaks the word + Nature obeys = Miracle. God speaks the word + We obey = Transformation. This brings up an interesting question: does a lack of transformation point back to a lack of obedience?  It would seem to make sense.  Please don't be trite about it, obedience here means choosing to learn and follow His Way more accurately over time with His help; not a stunted reference to merely responding as good pets do. Also worth mentioning here: Miracles can be more easily dismissed by onlookers than Transformations can be.

If I may repeat the point: we're stupid. We recognize the fact that ungodliness requires our cooperation in order to have any power: entertain the idea of shoplifting, and it gains power over one's mental state; act on it, and that power now impacts others; repeat it, and that power begins to overtake other areas of your life... you're becoming a different person, transforming toward the negative.

Why, then, do we not understand the fact that godliness requires our cooperation in order to have any power?! Why do we conceive of the process as if Jesus held a magic wand above us, rather than an out-stretched hand alongside us? Why are we half-hearted in our efforts to walk in the Way, inconsistent instead of persistent, passive quite often, or even resistant to implementing those small changes that would gradually snowball into transformation? 

BTW: To communicate to the world around you, “I'm forgiven, but unchanged,” is blasphemy!* 

We have a limited amount of time to work with here – hence the label, “Last Days.” We didn't have to get our act together to come to Jesus, thankfully, we just had to believe; but we DO have to cooperate with His efforts to transform us, or that transformation will never happen... we will continue in compromise and frustration, seeing God's promises through a thick dirty window, rather than experiencing them... and onlookers will continue to view Christianity - through us - as a myth with no power. 

Your call.

*see Romans 2:24, or 2 Peter 2:2 on this.   

Is this why we often focus on appealing to what the world already enjoys in order to reach people, rather than showing them the beauty and power of what they DON'T have?