Betrothed To Christ
In 2 Timothy 3, the apostle Paul warns of perilous times in the last days. These last days are characterised by intensity in spiritual warfare between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. The apostle faithfully exhorts Timothy to live a life of boldness, faithfulness, and endurance in the face of false teaching.
In verses 1-6, the apostle lists eighteen-character qualities as applied to the church first, and then the world. First on the list are ‘lovers of self’ ‘lovers of money’ and the list ends with ‘lovers of pleasure’. The Holy Spirit saw it important to list it in this order, to warn Christians of the dangers of the last days deception. Counterfeit Christianity is very prevalent these days, and the apostle says in verse 7 that they are ‘always learning (knowledge being accumulated) and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (lacking godly wisdom in applying the knowledge).
Writing to the church in Corinth, the apostle in 2 Corinthians 11:4 highlights the fallout of these last days. Many are deceived and subscribe to ‘another Jesus’ (not the Jesus of the gospels), ‘another spirit’ (not the Holy Spirit) and ‘another gospel’ (not the gospel of the kingdom of God) and put up with it readily enough. He feels a divine jealousy and reminds Christians that they have been betrothed to one husband that is Christ Jesus Himself. He exhorts them to remain loyal amid false teaching and the schemes of the enemy. His concern is that just as Eve was deceived in the garden of Eden, the church would be led astray in their thinking and living from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. This concern is as relevant today as it was when the apostle first wrote to the church in Corinth.
When believers are deceived to follow another Jesus (based on convenience not obedience), another spirit (leads to bondage and captivity not freedom in Christ), and another gospel (a gospel that demands very little of oneself and offers the world), then here are some things to note. These are tell-tale signs that believers must identify in their own lives and churches and exercise their discernment.
1. Technique over Presence
2. Strategy over Surrender
3. Church growth over Holiness
4. Relevance over Obedience
5. Metrics over Maturity
The spirit of the age (or the spirit of the world) is defined by godless philosophies and values. It pushes people to rebel against God and the authority of the Word, and prides itself on selfishness, deception, and rebellion. It shapes the way society thinks and lives.
When the spirit of the age is at work in the church and in individuals, there will be an over emphasis on technique, strategy, church growth, relevance to society and metrics. When the Holy Spirit is at work in the church, the church will increasingly manifest God’s Presence and power, surrendered living, purity and holiness, obedience, and maturity in the wisdom and ways of God. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42) and ‘the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.’ (Acts 2:47)
The spirit of the age demands ‘more’ and prides itself on ‘performance’ not Presence. This is the logic of Babylon, driven by the spirit of Babylon just as in the days of the builders of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11). This spirit of the age is propagating that success is measured by scale, visibility, and speed. This is the same spirit that animated Baal, who promised life through productivity and performance. Babylon says, “grow or die”, “produce or perish”. But the Holy Spirit forms His people through limits, Presence, weakness, and waiting. The spirit of the age demands acceleration, God requires abiding in His Presence. The spirit of the age demands output, God demands faithfulness. In many places, the modern church has enthroned Baal- the god of technique, productivity and more and in so doing has unknowingly aligned itself with the Babylonian system that the Lamb will ultimately overthrow (Revelation 18).
The Bride of Christ is called to intimacy with the Bridegroom King through devotion to His Word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and good works that glorify the Father in heaven. Jesus said in John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
Abraham and Moses were friends of God (Exodus 33:11, James 2:23). They obeyed God and exercised godly leadership over their lives and community. Their leadership was not defined by the absence of problems but by how they dealt with the problems they faced in their lives and community.
The secret or the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant. (Psalm 25:14). This speaks of the bridal paradigm, one of intimacy. This is what the church is called to in these last days.
Take time to look at your own life. Have you been living based on techniques taught by men or are you growing in a hunger for God’s Presence in your life? Is your default thinking causing you to resort to strategy rather than surrender to God’s wisdom? Have you fallen for the bait of numbers and statistics in the church rather than growth in holiness? Do you find yourself shying away from standing up for the truth of God’s Word in your social circles to appear more relevant to your friends or are you daily growing in obedience to His Word? Is your life based on formulae of what works, metrics rather than maturing in the wisdom and ways of God?
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
