Where in the world is godliness?
1Timothy 6:3-5
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
What I see here, is that if anyone does not agree with the sound teaching of Jesus Christ, they are conceited and understand nothing.
Did I misread that? If so, for the love of all that is good, please tell me.
In light of the direction of our world today, I’m just curious if I’ve misunderstood what it means to be Godly believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
So much is viewed as being intolerant and judgmental. If a believer doesn’t agree with others, (believers or not), on matters that the world says we should be tolerant about, then the believer is considered intolerant and judgmental.
The world says we are to be tolerant of view and behaviors such as:
Abortion. (murder) A long time favorite among those who love to debate women’s rights. Exodus 20:13
Divorce Matthew 19:1-12
Homosexuality 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10
Drunkenness Galatians 5:19-21
Idolatry, anything that means more to you than the Lord 1 Corinthians 6:9 , 1 Timothy 1:10
Coveting .. wanting what others have. Exodus 20:17
Fornication.. oh there’s one that comes up a lot, we just don’t know it by that word, but you know, sex before marriage. Galatians 5:19-21
Gossip … As believers, we talk about others in the name of concern. You know how the conversations go, “so I don’t wanna gossip, but …” Proverbs 20:19
ETC…
So I ask, what about Godliness? As believers aren’t we supposed to live Godly? Are we not supposed to think all those things are, dare I say, wrong?
The Word of God speaks loudly against these worldly views and behaviors, but when a bible believing Christian agrees with the Word and not the world, that person is judgmental and intolerant. I’m just not sure then what it means to be Godly.
If me, believing those things are wrong, is wrong, then what does it look like to be Godly?
Room for Grace
Now I know and understand that there are those who’ve experienced some of the hard things I’ve listed. I know there are reasons for the decisions made by those people. I am also sure those decisions did not come lightly.
That doesn’t mean they were Godly decisions. There is so much room for grace here, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m merely talking about Godly people, living Godly lives, on purpose, believing that the whole Word of God is everything.
Challange
The Word says if we do not agree with the sound teaching of the Word than we understand nothing. The sound teaching speaks against, homosexuality, abortions (murder) sexual immorality, drunkenness, idolatry, and gossip etc.
So if we agree with the world and not the Word we understand nothing. If we are tolerant of sin according to the Word, then we understand nothing.
My challenge and encouragement is that we, as Bible believing Christians, agree with the Word of God, try to live according to the Word of God, and not according to the tolerance touters of the world.
*note: I want to emphasize here that I am in NO WAY condemning anyone. I am a sinner. I have fallen short of the glory of God in big ways. I have lived ungodly at different times in my life, but am trying to actively work daily to live a Godly life as the Word has commanded. I am simply encouraging the believers of the world to stop accepting the ungodly actions of the world as “ok”. If we believe in the Word, we are to accept the WHOLE Word as truth, not just the parts we are comfortable with. To live and love as Godly people.
Lord, search my heart. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Amen.
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