In the course of his prophetic words in 2 Timothy 3, Paul moves swiftly to list the chief features of behaviour that will come to the fore in a perilous season, naming nineteen prominent sins which will take over society. These evil tendencies will be justified and applauded in the world, but the people of God must view them with great concern, recognising them as the very opposite of Christian character. This series of three articles is written by Dr Peter Masters, and is taken from https://metropolitantabernacle.org/articles/features-of-apostate-behaviour/.
Paul’s warning that people shall be ‘lovers of their own selves’ is intended to put us on our guard. The churches of Christ must take the greatest care to ensure they are not shaped by the world’s dislike of a serving stance, or by the hatred of biblical womanhood spread by atheistic feminism. From the promoters of godlessness we are to ‘turn away’. Proud-hearted people lacking the ‘servant-spirit’ of meekness (Galatians 5.23) should not be received into membership until the mindset of this perilous time is behind them, and a new outlook formed by the work of the Spirit.
Do we have church families who are ‘lovers of their own selves’, in that they live only for themselves? They worship at public services, and appear to enjoy the Word, but their energies are wholly applied to the well-being of their families, leaving nothing for the cause of Jesus Christ. Do we give no pastoral help to aloof and wayward friends? Do we bring no challenge, no expostulation and no persuasion? Do we not discourage waywardness and show the way to spiritual advance, service and fulfilment?
The selfishness and self-serving of this present perilous age is wholly offensive to God and must not be allowed to ruin the churches, claiming families, and becoming gradually accepted as a legitimate version of Christian living.
‘Covetous…’
Paul’s prophecy moves into yet further detail as it spells out the evil features of a perilous time, naming four supplementary manifestations of self-love. People, says Paul, will be ‘covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers’.
The present age is desperately covetous, presenting a formidable danger for believing churches, because the lust to have soon becomes the right to have. Yesterday’s luxuries are today’s necessities, and if a new generation (in the West) is already spoiled with plenty, where is it heading?
Faithful believers must honour the duties of self-denial, sincere stewardship of means, and a modest, reasonable standard of life. Our Saviour and Elder Brother is a giving Saviour, and a family likeness is meant to be in all his children. In perilous times, however, covetousness enters the church like floodwater, rendering the place foul and polluted.
Big-time televangelists and charismatic leaders are often exposed as living in extreme covetousness, yet their supporters never seem to mind. True believers, however, know that covetousness is a breach of the primary moral law, and is listed in 1 Corinthians 5 as an excommunicable offence. A grossly self-indulgent, rich-living man who will not change his ways, should not be allowed to remain a member of a Gospel church, let alone serve as an elder or deacon, for the apostle says, ‘From such turn away.’
Once again we have a special duty to young people who profess the Lord. Could it happen in our church that an otherwise earnest young person might buy an expensive, stylish sports coupé, because there has been no practical teaching on the standards of the Christian life? Or is there a poisonous example from older members who run unnecessarily luxurious cars?
The young have grown up in an age which says: ‘Spend it all on yourself! You are entitled to pleasures, luxuries, fashionable things and status symbols.’ Are they helped to see that these are the values of godlessness, and the special goals of a conspicuously evil season? . . . to be continued