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NASB | 2 Timothy 3:5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 3:5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. |
Bible Question:
Hi Nolan, Thank you for your quick answer. Let me say first, I am sorry about your family...I have very similar stories and I think their are many people who have shared similar experiences. I know that helps ease your pain any...but sometimes it helps to know that "we are not the only ones". The good news is...as a Christian, you now have a new family, with a very bright future! I tend to agree with you that this could mean families and nations as well. I noticed when you were talking about nations you distinguished between those who persecute Christians or who have no resemblance to Christianity, but did not mention those who do practice Christianity? When I read back over the passage 2Tim. 3:5...I saw that it said; highminded, lovers of self, boasters, lovers of pleasure, unthankful, disobedient to parents, unholy ect...but did not see anything in that passage to indicate that this may only include nations that deny Christianity. What I am saying is, I think even nations who allow Christian worship can also contain people like these passages descibe. Would you agree? Look at America, we allow Christian worship...but we also allow no worship and the worship of false gods. We certainly have our fair share of boasters, and prideful people, lovers of pleasure and disobedient children, ect..wouldn't you say? I think that would be a hard point to question. Therefor, I would ask you...Do you think America could be one of those countries (in it's present state) that we could be called to turn away from? I know this is a hard question because it brings about feelings of treason on some level, and then there is the whole "submitting to the governing authorities thing"...but if you can, please answer honestly and from a spiritual stand point. And if you agree with this...than how do we do both? Turn away from a country...where we must obey the governing laws? Thanks...coop1 :-) |
Bible Answer: Greetings coop1! I appreciate your sympathy for my family. They are continually kept in prayer. :-) I would agree! Even the United States of America has its share of people who fit the unwholesome characteristics that are described in 2 Tim. 3:1-9. But then again, every nation of people does. And there would always be the potential for these unwholesome characteristics wherever the sinful nature is present. If you feel a leading to turn away from the United States or to reject America's laws, then by all means, you do have the freedom to do that and to leave the United States. And I'm sure that you realize, that while you are on American soil, you will be expected to cooperate with America's laws and the governing authorites. But of course, you knew that already, and I, along with you, pledge allegiance to a 'higher authority', that being Jesus Christ, even though I believe that He has blessed us richly by placing us in such a country as America is. However, I have a different calling than you. I am not led to abandon the United States. The Lord has put it upon my heart to be a "lamp of light" where I am at- in the United States. He has chosen me to be one of His representatives in America, where I am, so that I may win others for Him. So with me, it is not a case of rejecting America because of the unwholesomeness within its borders, but it is a case of fulfilling my calling, which was placed upon me by Jesus Christ: to win some of those who practice "unwholesomeness" to a saving knowledge of God's grace. I believe that there is nowhere on earth where I can go to escape this sinful nature, since it is inherent within my very self.. Your Brother in Christ, Nolan |