Paul’s Words of Warning
Here is the text of which I refer:
But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Over my lifetime in the church, I have heard this text referenced many times from speakers, in books, or in conversation. For years, I missed a key part of the interpretation of the text. For some reason, those other speakers, books, and folks in conversation missed it as well.
Did you notice Paul’s reference as to who these people actually are?
Who Is Paul Warning?
As I mentioned above, I misinterpreted to whom Paul referenced. Who are the players?
Paul – the apostle and author of the letter
Timothy – his special protégé and recipient of the letter
The people – those who are in the church or are associated as Christians
Here is where I have often misheard this text over the years. “The people – those who are in the church or are associated as Christians.”
I have heard this referenced and preached as those who are not followers of Jesus and are in the world. Many times I have listened to this text referenced in an introduction with some kind of current even associated with it – and likewise not associated in any way with Christians or the Christian witness. However, that is not Paul’s point.
Look again. Paul writes, “They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power.”
Paul refers to those who are somehow associated with the church.
What are these folks doing wrong?
Just look at this list!
lovers of themselves,
lovers of money,
boastful,
arrogant,
blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
ungrateful,
unholy,
unloving,
irreconcilable,
slanderers,
without self-control,
savage,
opposed to what is good,
treacherous,
reckless,
conceited,
loving pleasure rather than loving God,
maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power
Not to be a smart aleck, but have you been on Twitter?
Have you been following the story of the Southern Baptists?
This is just scratching the surface. I imagine there are a few places we could apply this in the counseling world as well.
Without getting into a long litany of examples, let me encourage you to look over that list a time or two.
What do we do?
Step One: We need to begin by reading his warning carefully. Look over that list of inner man and outer man issues. Think about all the ways those sin can be manifested.
Step Two: We must humbly recognize that no sin is past us. We tend to trust ourselves more than anyone else. Many Christians trust their self-control or wisdom or discernment more than they do others. Where if another person was thinking something, saying something, or doing something, they would warn that person. But for his or her own self, they trust their own heart, motives, thoughts, and behaviors. Humility says that we should not.
Step Three: Go back through the list again and seek to find areas where these sins or sins like them need to be applied to our own personal lives. Where does the shoe fit in our own lives? Once those places are identified, then we need to determine what repentance looks like, and what the next step toward sanctification is.
Step Four: Consider our friends. If you have friends who are walking down this path, Paul says to avoid people like these. Who do we hang out with who are struggling in these areas? Do we need to find friends who are more consistent? From whom do we receive our counsel? (This is especially important for those of us who do counsel.) Who do you admire? From what authorities or cultural voices do you tend to get your priorities, values, and categories for living?
Step Five: Consider our sources of information. We need to apply the friends conversation past just those we can talk to, sit with, or follow. We must consider the other sources of knowledge that often become our “friends.” Is it a particular Twitter account, political personality, professor figure, cultural magnet, or what? Is it something in academia? Again, this is a broad category but worth pursuing. To whom or what do you turn as your “friends”? Paul says to avoid people like these. (Again, this is especially important for those of us who do counsel.) Who do you admire? From what authorities or cultural voices do you tend to get your priorities, values, and categories for living?
Why is all of this important? Because Paul specifically warns of the future day when those who dress up in Christian cultural attire may not be the people who are best to follow in any way. Further, we must consider our own hearts, attitudes, values, beliefs, thinking, affections, emotions, and behavior. Are we one of those people? For the sake of the glory of God, hopefully not.
Become a Patron Supporter…
Will you consider becoming a partner with this ministry to help offset the cost of the blog. This blog is a work of love; any gift of support continues to make this work possible. Thank you for considering a partnership. Learn more here.
Image Credit Chaz McGregor
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together