WHAT STANDARDS OF GODLINESS?
In our past Church history, however, we have experienced and/or
witnessed many false standards of godliness and what were
labelled "godly principles"—tithing is one classic example—and
even absurdities where mundane physical things—like make—up, refined
or unrefined sugar—were upheld as indicators of righteousness,
godliness, or the lack of the same. These provided some with a
counterfeit standard of godliness, while denying its true power
(2Ti 3:5). We have hopefully left these inane notions far, far
behind us.
Yet we are all inclined, are we not, appropriately or otherwise,
to assign degrees of rightness or wrongness to the actions and
patterns of conduct of others both outside and within our fellowship
according to our own interpretation or perception of the
applicability of the Word of God? In this process, it is very
easy to consider our way of doing things more enlightened
and deserving both of acceptance and imitation by others within
the Body. This, too, has been the example of Church history. Words,
actions and expectations enshrined in appellations such as "godly
principles" can be very disarming to the unwary!
But is our measure of what constitutes godliness and are our definitions
of "godly principles" in line with Scripture? What are
some of the characteristics of true godliness, and how are godly
principles defined and measured by the Word of God?
COMMANDMENTS OF MEN
The apostle Paul likewise had to contend with teaching within
the Church (Tit 1:11) that professed to be a more enlightened,
superior interpretation of the truth of God, but which was actually
error, bringing with it division and disputation instead of edification
in the true faith:
TRUE AND SOUND TEACHING
Godly teaching is instruction designed to promote godliness. It
is instruction that is sound or 'healthful' [1Ti 6:3, Gk: hugiaino],
as opposed to 'unhealthy' or 'ailing' [1Ti 6:4, Gk: noseo] notions
which produce only contention and arguments over words, as Paul
goes on to explain:
ASPECTS OF GODLINESS
True godliness must enhance our faith. It is added to
it (verse 5):
GODLY PRINCIPLES
As simple as it may sound, godliness and godly principles deny
ungodliness:
Let us notice a genuinely godly principle:
Paul elaborates further on what does bring God's—and man's—approval:
BASED ON THE WORD OF TRUTH
Christians, we are told in 2Pe 1:3, have been given "all
things"—everything they need— "that pertain to [real]
life and godliness". Indeed, the apostle Paul informs us,
in his first letter to Timothy, that godliness is eternally valid
and profitable for all things (1Ti 4:8), and that true
godliness with contentment is great gain (1Ti 6:6).
The ideas of men have long been in competition with the true spiritual
principles of God. Christ condemned the Pharisees for this very
thing:
Mt 15:9 "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men."
Their worship of God was in vain because they had nullified the
Word of God for the sake of their own tradition (v 6), their own
notions. This 'tradition of the elders' (v 2), formulated by the
rabbis, prescribed detailed interpretations and applications of
the Law of Moses to everyday life situations. Now applying the
Law of God to all areas of our lives is of course God's will for
each one of us, as long as it is based correctly upon the Scriptures.
But the interpretations of the Pharisees were of human origin,
the ideas and opinions of men, not founded upon the Word of God,
though of course these leaders of the Jews claimed otherwise.
Tit 1:14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments
of men who turn from the truth.
These were not the commandments of God, but rather myths, ideas
of people's own invention, without foundation in the Scriptures
of truth, and genealogies, where Old Testament history was no
doubt misinterpreted and misapplied, and possibly mingled with
the philosophical notions of men.
Paul then goes on to contrast these fables with true godliness,
so let's come up with some biblical definitions of that term.
Of first importance is that godliness has as its basis sound
teaching—sound doctrine—not unsound ideas or unsubstantiated
opinions:
1Ti 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent
to wholesome words, even the words [based upon the clear
teaching] of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which
accords with godliness.
One who teaches the Word of God should speak and teach only sound
instruction from the Scriptures; this is the intent of this verse.
The teaching of God is wholesome and should be taught and
applied wholesomely. Ideas and principles touted as being "godly",
or in accord with godliness, should therefore be rooted in the
Word of God, should they not?
1Ti 6:3 (NIV) If anyone teaches false doctrines and does
not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and
to godly teaching…
1Pe 4:11 If anyone [v 10: who has this gift of speaking]
speaks [Gk: logion—an oracle, an utterance of God], he
should do it as one speaking the very words of God..
1Ti 6:4-5 he is proud, knowing nothing [NEB: he is "a
pompous ignoramus"], but is obsessed with disputes and arguments
over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of
the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain [and
not necessarily financial: we tend to validate ourselves through
our opinions]. From such withdraw yourself.
Truth and godliness go hand-in-hand. Godliness ensues when this
truth which is the sound teaching of Scripture is both acknowledged
and put into practice:
Tit 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus
Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment
of the truth [in words and actions] which accords with
[NIV: "leads to"] godliness.
Let us consider some other features that characterize—that accord
with, and lead to—godliness.
Paul warns Timothy, and us as well, not to become involved in
teachings or notions which lack an adequate basis of godliness;
for biblically-defined godliness, like the comparison he
offers of an athlete in training, has to do with the self-discipline
required for Christian living, and not with human ideas or opinions.
1Ti 4:7 [NIV] Have nothing to do with godless myths and
old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly [NRSV: "Train
yourself in godliness"; Gk: piety, holiness according
to the Gospel].
So what "old wives tales" are we still adhering to that
stand in the way of the true godliness of a life of holiness?
For godliness has everything to do with leading lives of holiness:
2Pe 3:11,14 Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct
and godliness.
And the result of this pursuit of holiness is that we are found
to be without blame before God:
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
Godliness is also related to reverence [NIV: "holiness"]—the
fear of God:
1Ti 2:1-2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
It has to do with good works, and also with matters to do with
modesty and decency:
1Ti 2:9-10 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with propriety [what is proper, what is appropriate]
and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly
clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness,
with good works.
In fact, a Christian's good works are starkly contrasted with
unprofitable, contentious human ideas and philosophies:
Tit 3:8-9 This is a faithful saying, and these things
I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed
in God should be careful to maintain good works. These
things are good and profitable to men. 9 But [in contrast] avoid
foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about
the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
Godliness is to be found amidst the other good fruits of the Spirit
of God, which must indeed be present for us to produce these good
works:
1Ti 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things [including,
in verse 5, a false standard of godliness] and pursue [like
the athlete training for the Games previously alluded to] righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
So if labels of godliness are assigned to physical practices of
ours—to ways in which we do things, based on our opinions—or to
principles we espouse and promote as having the approval of God,
yet the good fruits of the Spirit such as love, patience, gentleness
are decidedly absent in our actions, how can we claim to be pursuing
principles of godliness?
2Pe 1:6-7 to knowledge [add] self-control, to self-control
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Self-willed opinions, unsubstantiated by Scripture, do not enhance
a Christian's faith!
Like godliness, godly principles—principles of God—are the teachings
of Scripture, including the essential doctrines of the faith.
This is what the word translated "principles" [Gk: "logos:
the Divine Expression"] by the writer of the Book of
Hebrews clearly shows:
Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary
principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith
toward God.
Similarly:
Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach you again the first principles [Gk:
stoicheion; NIV: "the elementary truths of God's word":
referring to the six doctrines of Heb 6:1-2] of the oracles of
God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
These elementary "principles", foundational teachings
without which the Christian's faith cannot be built, are then
listed in verses 1-2 of chapter 6. Again, principles of God are
the clear teachings of Scripture!
Tit 2:11-12 (NIV) For the grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No"
to ungodliness and worldly passions, and [in contrast] to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
The exercise of godliness or godly "principles" therefore
brings approbation and favor from God because we are denying what
is ungodly; the failure to exercise these same principles brings
condemnation. So it is a matter of what truly commends us—or fails
to commend us—to God, not what we may think does, without
any verification from Scripture.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
Him.
In all we do—relating obviously to our motives and actions in
terms of our relationship to God and to one another (the theme
of chapter 3 is holy living, especially within the Body of Christ),
and not to mundane routines—this basic principle should apply.
Doing this will commend us to God.
Ro 14:17-19 (NIV) For the kingdom of God is not a matter
of eating and drinking [or of any other purely physical practices],
but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because
anyone who serves Christ in this way [in righteousness, with the
aim of peace and mutual edification] is pleasing to God and approved
by men. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads
to peace and to mutual edification.
This is why eating and drinking and other mundane things are not
measures of godliness or godly principles. Again, godliness has
to do with spiritual principles. However, there can be
occasions, as is alluded to in verse 9, where in our eating or
drinking—the routine necessities of life—or in other physical
practices, we may very well be failing to exercise godliness:
1Co 8:8-9 But food [or the physical] does not commend
us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we
do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty
[or let us say, "this 'godly principle'"] of yours become
a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Ro 14:15-16 (NIV) If your brother is distressed because
of what you eat [or by the pursuit of your "godly principles"],
you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy
your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider
good to be spoken of as evil.
He is saying: think about the long-term results of thoughtlessly
pursuing what is good—or "godly"—for you! This is what
Paul did:
1Co 8:13 Therefore, if food [what I eat, or what I do]
makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I
make my brother stumble.
So in whatever we do in our relationships with one another, eating
and drinking included, we must practice godliness—apply the spiritual
principles of the Law of God—so that we do not cause offence.
By so doing we glorify God, for the pursuit of godliness and genuinely
godly principles brings glory to God:
1Co 10:31-2 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense
[in whatever you do], either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to
the church of God.
OTHER GODLY PRINCIPLES
2Co 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our
conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity
and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the
grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
2Co 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry,
but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry
in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance [one of the "elementary
principles" of Heb 6:1] leading to salvation, not to be regretted;
but the sorrow of the world produces death. (v 11)
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.
For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you
as a chaste virgin to Christ.
1Ti 1:4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in
faith.
Heb 5:7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered
up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to
Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because
of His godly fear (see Heb 11:7; 12:28)
These godly principles, together with many others, constitute
the godliness which characterizes our Christian walk or, as Paul
describes it in 2Ti 3:12, our living "godly in Christ Jesus".
Before we hastily label any of our practices or human activities
as more perfect or enlightened representations of godliness, or
as godly principles to be both accepted and emulated by our brothers
and sisters in the faith, let us all heed the admonition of the
Scriptures and first put them—honestly and sincerely—to the test
of the Word of God upon which all our words and actions are to
be based:
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,
a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing [correctly
handling] the word of truth.
Godliness and godly principles are soundly based on the living
Word of God!
Tit 2:7-8 [NIV] Show yourself in all respects a model
of good works [the good works of godliness], and in your teaching
show integrity, gravity [don't treat it lightly!], 8 and
sound speech that cannot be censured [or condemned; speech
which is blameless]; then any opponent will be put to shame, having
nothing evil to say of us.