“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5 KJV).
The list of negative characteristics given to us in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 concludes with those who possess “…a form of Godliness but deny it’s power” (NIV). While these individuals maintain an external façade of spirituality, they effectively reject God by placing a love of money, a love of pleasure, and a love of self ahead of Him. Much like a vocalist who lip-synchs his or her way through a song, there is no substance behind their performance. They claim to be religious, but “…reject the power that could make them godly” (NLT).
Because of this, Paul the Apostle offered some wise counsel: “Don’t have anything to do with such people” (CEV). You see, these characteristics have always existed, even among those who lived during Paul’s lifetime. The difference is that as we draw closer to the end of this chapter of human history, greater numbers of people will exhibit these qualities.
This counsel is also similar to the advice Paul gave to the church at Corinth in the New Testament epistle of 1 Corinthians: “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits'” (1 Corinthians 15:33). You see, it has often been said that a person is known by the company that he or she keeps. Since our friendships and relationships influence our attitudes and beliefs, we often take on the habits, mannerisms, and convictions of those who become our companions.
This is not a new idea, for as we’re told in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26). This further serves to remind us that our relationships have an effect upon us for better or worse.
While it is important to maintain good relationships with others as we seek to be ambassadors for Christ, it is also important to evaluate our relationships with those who claim to be Christians but show little interest in validating that claim through their choices and decisions. This has led one author to the following conclusion…
“The simple responsibility of Christians is to turn away not only these attitudes, but also from the people who do these things… ‘This exhortation clearly implies that Paul did not consider the state of moral depravity just pictured as wholly a matter of the future. He was keenly aware that the evils about which he was forewarning were already at work.’ [a]” (1)
(1) [a] D Edmond Hiebert, Second Timothy- Everyman’s Bible Commentary “The Minister And The Coming Apostasy 3:1-17” quoted in Guzik, Dave, 2 Timothy 3 – Perilous Times And Precious Truth, (2-5) A description of the human condition in the last days, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-timothy-3/