Before doing this Bible study, please read the one-minute introduction: Unbelief With a Christian Mask. It offers some examples of “professing” Christians who live by worldly principles will claiming to follow God.Sadly, many who profess Christ don't really know Him.
The examples in the devotion resemble many true situations I've heard about, and they have similar characteristics:
The first two examples in the devotion turn their backs on people who graciously and lovingly cared for them. They are unwilling to accept any disagreement and refuse to handle differences maturely. In addition, the pastor completely violates one of the Big Ten (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2-3) by dishonoring his parents while claiming to love God. And he will be judged more strongly because of the influence he has (James 3:1).
✔ Ungratefulness
1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 17:13: “If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.”
See That's Easy for You to Say and God Calls Their Worship a Farce.
✔ Holding grudges, refusing to reconcile
Hebrews 12:15: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
Matthew 5:23-24: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
✔ Cutting People Off, Refusing to Reconcile
Proverbs 18:1: “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
Romans 12 is a good passage to read in regard to how we are to treat people with whom we disagree, even bad people.
The third example put on a front but secretly stabbed her Christian friends in the back.
✔ Lying/Slander
Colossians 3:9-10: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
2 Timothy 3:1-6 (below) so accurately describes the examples in our modern culture, examples of people who have an outward form of godliness while denying the true commands and attitudes of Christianity.
2 Timothy 3:1-6: “But
mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will
be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,* ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the
good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have
nothing to do with such people.”
*This verse literally says “disobedient to parents” but means disobedient to God's commands regarding parents. See Outward Godliness Isn't Godliness for further explanation.
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