2 Timothy 3:1-17

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.

⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

⁹ But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

¹⁰ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

¹¹ Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

¹⁵ And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works

    

    Born again Christians

-We are to turn away from those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. 

-We too can fully know the doctrine that Paul speaks of in verse 10.

-All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

-We are to continue in the things which we have learned and been assured of, knowing the source

-We may or may not have had the same up bringing as Timothy but we who are saved have also 

been made wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus The scripture is from God.

 -It is profitable for us for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness.  

-We can be fully furnished by the word of God unto all good works.  Why?  It is because the Lord Jesus 

Christ says so thats why!  

How many people in the so-called church have a "form of godliness" that is described in the 

above chapter? 

 I recently had a person from the congregation in which I used to be an elder stop by my 

house to talk.  I can appreciate the sincerity that he has to want my family and myself to come back.  

The visit however reinforced to me that I had made the right decision to resign and withdrawal our 

membership.  I again reiterated to him the main reason for leaving and that being the congregations 

ecumenism with Roman Catholics.  He then replied with some human reasonings which included 

suggesting to have a by-law put in place in regard to ecumenism with Rome.  And that if the 

denomination as a whole chose to be ecumenical with Rome the local congregation would then retreat 

back to a time in the denominations history that was more in line with correct biblical beliefs.  He asked 

me if I would be appeased by something like that.  Really?  What?  News flash, they are already in the 

palm of Rome's hand.  The denomination is already officially in talks with Rome.  If the congregation 

wants to do right they would completely break ties with the denomination, rend their hearts and 

not their garments and turn to and obey the word of God. 

 I, again, can somewhat appreciate his sincerity but he is sincerely wrong.  Their understanding has been 

darkened in regards to Gods word because of listening to men and women such as Rick Warren and Beth 

Moore.  I mention these two names now because he mentioned their names in our conversation a few 

days ago in a good light.  I then had to inform him of their ties to Roman Catholicism.  

All I know is that I have been constantly bombarded by men and women that call themselves

Christians but have been seduced away from obeying the word of God and in turn obey mens inventions.  

I love the guy and his family that came to talk to me.  He however comes with a form of godliness.  And 

whether he is aware of it or not, his plea to return to the “church” would inadvertently put my family in 

jeopardy once again.  No thanks.

I will leave you with another chapter from the scriptures that has been on my mind lately and that is

Psalms 106.  Be encouraged! Read the scriptures and obey them!  

In Christ Jesus Our Lord!

    

    

BOARD GAMES

What do the Christians out there think about board games?

Are there board games that can be beneficial to the Christian man, women and child?  

Does it matter the type of board games Christians play?  Are there some board games that could be considered scripturally sound?  Also, are there board games that could be considered scripturally unsound?  Are board games to be considered as something to be played at all? 

What are the scriptural limitations without being legalistic to how we should approach board games?  Or is playing board games being legalistic?  

What does the scripture say?

In my understanding, walking after the flesh is being legalistic but being led of the Spirit we are not under the law.  (Galatians 5)

There are quite a few more questions that have passed through my mind over the years when playing board games.  The reason I bring it up is that over the years I have yet to find a godly purpose in a large percentage of them.  In my judgement most board games do not bring out the good in people that are trying to be obedient to Christ.  I instead have found them to be border line idolatry because of the excessive attachment that people have towards them. 

I want at this point to make it clear that I do not want to put on any Christian the bondage of legalism.  But exhort us as Christians to put on Christ and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

In Romans 12:1-3 it says, 

“I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly , according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” 

There are many more scriptures that have demonstrated to me that I should be sober and vigilant in regards to board games and how I give place to them in mine and my families life.  Here are just a few: Galatians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans.  Of course all of scripture exhorts us to obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.  And that his grace is what teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.

What brought this up to the fore front of my mind again?  Family invited us out for dinner on the 2nd of January.  What consumes their time when not eating?  Board games, sports on T.V. talking about anything and everything except the one thing a christian should be excited to talk about - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Most of the time I try to keep silent with regards to how superficial the family wants to be around each other.  But when ungodly things are introduced to the equation I get a little bit zealous to the protection of my children and my wife. 

The board game 7 Wonders was put down on the table to be played.  I had never heard of the game before but as soon as the box was put down on the table I was pressed in my spirit to examine what this game was all about.  Normally I don’t play any games because I personally believe them to be and idle way to pass the time by.  This time however I played the game.  It was absolutely horrible.  How a Christian could play 7 Wonders is beyond me.  

For those who have family an friends playing this game be warned.  The game is a very flattering way to introduce people to the occult, the gods, and many more unbiblical practices.  

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not".

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law"…