Perilous Times are Here: Covetous People

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

This is the third installment in a short series on 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Last time, we dealt with “lovers of their own selves” and we saw that in society today, this is largely what people are becoming and have become. People want what is best for themselves first and foremost.

Today’s subject deals with the subcategories attached to that main category of people loving themselves (as we discussed last time), and Paul lists numerous. In fact, the entirety of verse 2 after “men shall be lovers of their own selves” are simply adjectives that support his thesis.

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)

Let’s take a few moments to look at all these adjectives, shall we? We’re just dealing with the remainder of verse 2 in this particular article.

• covetous
• boasters
• proud
• blasphemers
• disobedient to parents
• unthankful
• unholy

That’s quite a list, isn’t it? To covet something means to earnestly desire it and it usually has to do with wanting what you cannot normally have, often due to affordability or availability. In at least some cases, people might covet something so badly that they are willing to break the law to obtain it.

Let’s take a closer look at verse 2, which talks about exactly how corrupt humanity will become as we approach the end of days prior to the return of Jesus. By the way, it is important to keep things in context and in chapter two, Paul has just finished telling Timothy that false teachers (heretics) would introduce false doctrines (heresy) into the Church. Because of this, the Church itself would begin to move away from its true Anchor, doctrinally speaking. This would bring about a change in the way people/Christians see themselves and God, as always happens.

In fact, our view of God, others and ourselves is always based on what we believe. That’s not hard to understand. So it is of the utmost importance to understand the reality of who God is, our relationship to Him and what He expects from us as Christians.

What I find fascinating in this section of Scripture is that, while the sins listed here have always been part of the world due to the fall and resultant fallen nature, in the time frame that Paul is referring to (the last days), he sadly notes that many of these attitudes will become part and parcel of those who are part of Christendom. Why is that?

It is due in large part to the fact that doctrinal error has crept into Christendom. It has become clearly problematic.

A number of years ago the world started hearing about the “emergent church” or the “postmodern church.” Admittedly, it is difficult to define exactly what the “emergent church” is, but let’s use this particular definition, which sums things up nicely though not covering all the bases:

The emergent church is crossing many forbidden theological boundaries that have previously not been breached…The emergent members desire to live their faith as a “post modern” society and at times are hard to distinguish from the pluralistic, secular (worldly) society in which it exists…The emergent church is pro-active in its desire to change and influence society.  This may include using political power to bring in the ‘Kingdom,’ create or work from a platform of social activism, and trying to overcome the public and private system that is presently held in society… [1]

The above definition is an excerpt from the linked page in the footnotes below, with the article titled, “What is the Emergent Church? What Do They Believe?” I would encourage readers to read the entire article, though there may be parts with which readers may disagree.

The reality is that within the Emergent Church, there is a watering down of sin, as defined in Scripture, including the area of homosexuality or other sexual sin. At the other extreme, there is usually a greater emphasis on being a social justice warrior (for Christ), and even a movement within the Emergent Church to bring change through political involvement.

While it is one thing to be aware of the politics of nations and even states where one lives, to think that being politically involved will be the vehicle through which God will bring permanent change to the world is simply a denial of God’s Word.

Understanding what’s happening in the realm of politics can certainly be helpful in seeing how the world is changing. All citizens have the right to vote and certainly Christians should avail themselves of that option. However, pinning our hopes on this political candidate or that one is a waste of time. This does not mean of course, that certain politicians cannot get some things done, but the entire political spectrum is so seemingly irredeemable due to its inherent corruption that it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to pin our hopes on other human beings.

The Emergent Church has, in many ways, set the Bible aside, replacing it with emotional virtue (aka political correctness or Cultural Marxism). This is when people allow their feelings to create their beliefs. This too has become part of Christendom and not many churches today seem exempt from it.

All of this together has caused a serious spiritual malaise to develop within Christendom. Paul’s list above highlights aspects of that spiritual malaise. If it is affecting those within Christendom (which includes real and professing Christians), how much more does it affect those who have never been anchored to THE truth; the truth of God’s Word?

Covetous is a word that refers specifically to those who love money. They cannot get enough of it. They are always doing what they can to increase their wealth. We see this in some of the world’s richest people, but it also finds its way into Christendom. We know for a fact that there are people in pulpits who are constantly doing what they can to increase the money in their coffers. Because of it, their lifestyles are such that few can touch. They live in multi-million dollar estates, drive the best cars (or are driven around in the best cars), have their own jets and are able to have pretty much whatever they want to have. Truly, they have their rewards.

All of this naturally leads to becoming a “boaster,” though they are sometimes careful to give God the “glory” with their words. However, in reality, they will point to their “faith” and “belief” in God that has given them serious wealth. In fact, they often tell their followers that God wants the same for them if only they will use their own faith to bring to themselves what their leader has brought to him/herself.

Because they boast in what they have, they are naturally proud of it, aren’t they? They almost tend to rub their wealth in the faces of the poor – those who generously give of their own money so that these leaders can live opulent lives.

Through all of this, they become blasphemers because they lie continually about God, what God supposedly wants for everyone and how God allegedly provides it. It is a scary thought to consider that one day, these people will stand before God and have to offer an explanation for what they believed, taught, and lived. I cannot imagine any explanation that would please God, can you? Their lives are all based on lies and I’m sure they may try to utter lies to Him but will be stopped. They have spent their lives lying about (and to) God and became blasphemers because of it.

Paul also notes that these people are disobedient to parents. That’s certainly where it starts, but in the end, these people are disobedient to anyone in authority simply because they do not like having to answer to anyone. We see leaders within Christendom that this fully applies to as well as people outside of Christendom where this also fully applies. In reality, there’s a general anti-authoritarian wave crashing over all of society. It’s gaining a foothold in churches because too many churches are now simply reflecting society.

Within emergent churches, it became acceptable and normative for the pastor to dress casually. No longer was wearing a suit and tie or even slacks, dress shirt and tie, a good idea. It was too “off-putting” for the average unchurched person, they said. In order to make those outside the church feel more comfortable about going to church, it was believed that pastors need to look less “authoritarian” and far more approachable.

So, off with the suit, the tie and the dress shirt, replaced with jeans, a tucked out shirt, no socks and casual shoes or sneakers. No longer was the pulpit the center of the platform. It was replaced with a stool off center and a music stand where the pastor would sit and mainly ask questions to the congregation. This new normal was far more candid and people felt the guy on the dais was just “one of us;” just a guy who guided the conversation while encouraging people to come to their own conclusions about things.

It wasn’t long before people became unthankful for things, especially salvation and all the blessings that come with it. In essence, people became way too comfortable and though they thought they were “growing,” they were actually growing away from God. These things of God, which are truly holy, became too familiar. With it, came an unholy attitude toward God because it lowered God.

In essence, many within the Church, as Paul warned Timothy nearly 2,000 years ago, became very much like those of the world; those who do not know God and have no interest in knowing Him.

This continued and created the push within Christendom for social justice. We are seeing this to a great degree in society. Are there injustices in society? Certainly, and they’ve existed since before the Flood. Solomon noted exactly how much injustice occurred in his day in Proverbs. Things have not improved and too many Christians have lost sight of their job in all of this.

I was talking to a friend from church recently who mentioned that when you go into one of the big box stores, there are masks, T-shirts and other things all related to the BLM movement. Phrases like “I can’t breathe” etc., are emblazoned on them and people are buying them. Some Christians are buying them as well because they believe that racial injustice needs attention. Never mind that BLM (as well as AntiFa), is an organization founded by people who are devout Marxists – a fully anti-God, anti-moral organization that has no qualms about using violence to achieve its end as we’ve seen repeatedly in society.

What is my job as a Christian in all of this though? Is it to join in with the crowd of protesters who at times, endanger their own lives and the lives of innocent people? Isn’t my job as a Christian to do exactly what Jesus did? Isn’t it to bring the Gospel of truth to the lost regardless of gender, race, culture or religion? Aren’t I supposed to live in a way that exemplifies the way that Jesus lived?

I don’t see Jesus being involved in social justice. He was involved in actual justice. He never took up a position with a group that was anti-God. He sided with God the Father all the time and often that meant being seen as unpopular because of His stance against the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes and other religious leaders. In fact, He stood against wickedness wherever He found it, able to judge a person’s heart (unlike us).

This list of adjectives that Paul is using here in 2 Timothy 3:2 is shocking. He is applying it to leaders who sneak into the church unaware, but he is also borrowing from the way society in general was in his time. Interestingly enough, society is worse now.

We are living in perilous times. This is a fact. Each of us needs to do what Joshua did by deciding whom we will serve. That decision, once made, needs to be reiterated every day.

[1] https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/what-is-the-emergent-church-what-do-they-believe/

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective