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. This is a growing problem in our culture as people no longer value hard work but look for handouts (See 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
They are unwilling to accept any disagreement and refuse to handle differences maturely. Romans 12 is a good passage to read in regard to how we are to treat people (even bad people) with whom we disagree.
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.
Those who do ministry in the church will be judged more strongly because of the influence they have (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
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.”
✔ Cutting off contact, refusing to reconcile
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.”
Proverbs 18:1: “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
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 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. Note how each of the traits mentioned above are included.
2 Timothy 3:1-6: “But
mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will
be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,* ungrateful, unholy, without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the
good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have
nothing to do with such people.”
* The increasing popularity of the Boundaries movement and the increase in estrangements between parents and adult children shows that most Christians are unaware that God considers disrespect of parents a serious adult sin. It's not only listed in 2 Timothy 3:1-6 above but similarly listed in Romans 1:30. While it uses the term “disobedient to parents,” it doesn't mean that adults must obey everything their parents tell them to do. Commentators explain it this way: “This expresses the idea that they did not show to parents that honor, respect, and attention which was due” (Barnes' Notes on the Bible); they are “stubborn and rebellious against those that bare them.” (Matthew Poole's Commentary); The Greek word
for disobedience in this passage notes an unwillingness to prefer what
God prefers - God tells men to honor their parents, but in the last days
children of all ages will deny God's commands.
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