Thursday Theology: Image and Substance

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

Unlike far too many people with a casual interest in the Bible, I don't spend time trying to figure out when Christ will return. The Bible gives two assurances on that subject: first, that it will happen, and second, that it will catch us off guard. Even Jesus, part of the Godhead, admitted He did not know the hour of his return. How arrogant it is, then, for anyone to claim to have "cracked the code" (a common theme in many respects today...).

That said, the Bible also promises things will get worse for mankind, not better, in however much time remains until the end of history. The root of this, of course, is man's own sinful nature. During the century between Napoleon's defeat and World War I, mankind managed to convince itself that paradise was at hand: our technological advances, combined with enlightened philosophy, would usher in a new era. Instead, technology enabled the horrors of two world wars, a cold war, and inumerable purges by governments against their own citizenry.

Lest we think this is all ancient history, let's look at today. Our own country, for instance. Can you recognize it in the passage above? We don't like to think of ourselves in such terms. Why, we have one of the highest church attendance rates of any country in the world, don't we? How many of those are merely benchwarmers, though? How many have the "form of godliness, but deny its power?"

We are, in fact, a boastful people, often rash, and jealous of our material perogatives. Instead of putting our trust in the Lord, we are enamoured of our horses and chariots. Wounded by 9/11, we lash out without prayerful consideration, and largely ignore the suffering of the innocent victims of our national policy. We’ve traded the humble spirit of “Amazing Grace” for “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” while winking at the most shameful behavior within our own country. Instead of asking God to be on our side, as is our standing tradition, we need to invert the plea and ensure we are on His side. That’s how it’s supposed to work, after all—this isn’t an equal partnership.

What have we become?
A self indulgent people
What have we become?
Tell me where are the righteous ones?
What have we become?
In a world degenerating
What have we become?
- D.C. Talk, "What Have We Become"