form

“Having a form of godliness, but denying its power.” (2nd Timothy 3.1-5) A form is something that looks like the real thing. It is very similar to the real thing. It’s details so closely resemble the real thing. But it cannot do what the real thing does. It cannot evoke any kind of a genuine reaction or result, because it is only a copy.

This is what the writer, the Apostle Paul, was describing. Having a form of godliness would involve true, intellectual agreement with scripture without actualizing it: a true belief in the existence of God and His desire to have relationship with His creation, humankind, through the atonement made by Jesus Christ on the cross, and by the Holy Spirit that has been sent to dwell within those who answer His call to relationship. But merely agreeing with something is not the same as living, or abiding by that agreement. I believe the Green Bay Packers have the ability to be a good football team. But I will not bet money on that agreement, thereby denying the power of that belief. If I had faith enough that they would win the game, why would I not wager money on them, believing they would win and increase my holdings? Denying the power of God is just like that. I know in my heart and mind that God loves me, and that His way for me to live is better than my own way, apart from Him. Yet, I so easily fall into living my own way. I’m willing to tell people of what I know and believe about Him. I am not ashamed of Him in that sense-in that “form.” But, so often times I’m not willing put any “capital” into what I so adamantly agree is true about Him.

We usually mean “money” when we use the word “capital.” But what I mean by “capital” is whatever we have in our possession that God could use to “increase our holdings,” or enrich our lives. The most precious commodity that a human has control of, themselves, is NOW, our time, energy, and attention. It is what we spend that buys us gold, appreciation in relationships, fame in the arts, adoration from people who watch us do what we do, or just a paycheck. So, believing in God intellectually is not the same as putting your time, energy, and attention into living His way, loving what He loves, pleasing Him with everything we have, do, think, and say.

This “form” of godliness is very dangerous. To the Christian it is dangerous because we will begin to make excuses for base behaviors the more we go without reading His Word, praying, and meditating on Him. Those excuses dull our consciences, and we become comfortable with behavior that God is expressly uncomfortable with. This dullness of conscience to sin is fertile soil for the seeds of sin to grow in. Soon, the Christian believer has only a “form” of godliness. But because the relationship with the Father has been neglected, His power is impeded in our daily living and testimony. This is what I see has been happening in the life of this Pilgrim.

It is also dangerous to unbelievers the straying Christian is in contact with. Because the Christian uses “Christian—ease,” words and phrases with religious connotations, the unbeliever sees the difference in what the Christian says and does. This creates an atmosphere for doubt and skepticism leading to cynicism in the unbeliever. Other believers can be affected in much the same way. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote that to the person that knows the good they should be doing, but does not do it, it is sin (James 4.17). So sinning is not merely engaging in behavior that is displeasing to God. It is also not engaging in behavior that is pleasing to God. I can find no example in scripture that gives us middle ground. We are either constantly progressing in that Life in the Spirit that is full of God's power, or we are digressing.

What about the power in a life that exhibits genuine Godliness? There are so many examples and descriptions in the Bible that teach us what that really looks like. The universe was touched by God's power, and order came to be by merely His spoken Word. It gave energy, it created living mankind. It parted the Red Sea, but destroyed the land of Egypt. It raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, but took Annanias' and Saphira's lives. It knocked a Christ-hater off his horse, and then empowered him to give his life for the spreading of that same Gospel. In all these examples we see that nothing that is touched by God's power remains the same, good or bad.

You know it's Godliness, exhibiting His power, the genuine article, because something changes. Where you were content to continue living in bitterness and anger, you just can't do it any longer. Where there was anamosity between you and a neighbor, somehow you're just tired of it, and you seek restoration. Where there was selfishness, you long to give your self away, and look for opportunities to do so, and then follow through. That's the biggest test between form and authenticity-there's the unction of the Holy Spirit, and there is follow through on the part of the Believer. People see the difference, and they will glorify God because of it (1 Peter 2.12). Then they have been touched by God's power, and guess what? Something starts changing them, quietly, softly at first; something new begins to form deep within...