Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5
We used to shake our heads at a man who lived just down the street from us for awhile. He held the title of ‘canon’ in one of the religious organizations, and was the minister in charge of a local congregation. Despite his title and his responsibilities, this man was in constant trouble with his family because he frequently cheated on his wife. Eventually, she sent him packing, for good reason. But he continued on with his religious duties at the local church. We couldn’t help but wonder how a man living such a flagrantly sinful life could present himself as a ‘man of God’. Had he been a genuine Christian, he would have been enabled by the Holy Spirit to set aside his sinful lifestyle. But he had no power to do so. He was the type of man that our text warns us about.
The greatest proof that a form of godliness is only a form is its inability to produce a change in the life of the person. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. His desire and mission is that we would be conformed into the image of Christ, that we would be transformed from what we used to be into what God wants us to be. Under the leading of the Spirit, the believer will desire to transformed: Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). When we see someone who claims to be a Christian living in open sin, we must question whether their profession is real. Of course, many of the people who claim to be Christians because they are church members are not only unsaved, but they have never been given any instruction or example in living a godly life. Most of the religious organizations and denominations around us have nothing but a form of godliness. All they require of their members is occasional attendance at their services, occasional participation in their activities, and occasional contributions to their coffers. Spiritually, they are as dead as those in the cemeteries next door to their buildings. Is it any wonder that our text tells us to avoid them?
Turning away from those who have only a form of godliness means not allowing them to have any influence over our lives. They will try to influence us. They will try to drag us down to their level of immorality and lawlessness. They will try to convince us of their false philosophies and doctrines, and have us accept the lies that the devil is using to keep people away from the Scriptures and the God that the Scriptures reveal. They will have us so busy with the affairs of this world, or even of their religion, that we will have no time or energy to serve our Lord.
The only business that a Christian should have with a person who has only a form of godliness is to present them with the Gospel. Otherwise, we have to avoid them – Jim MacIntosh