Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 2nd February 1997

From the Pastor: Godliness

A word which one used to hear quite frequently in Christian circles, but not much in more recent times is the word "godliness". It denoted someone who lived according to Biblical precepts in reverence toward the living God. The first priority in every department of life was God's estimate of any matter, and to practice and live accordingly. It denoted, moreover a life of prayer, meditation of the Word, practical piety, and orientation of one's whole attitude to the God of Scripture. Has this word and what it stands for gone out of date? Many would have us believe that it has. The emphasis is now on being part of the world as opposed to being "other-worldly", on being "practical", on participating in culture, on identifying with people where they are, and so on. However, the word is still in our Bibles (cf. 1 Timothy 2:2; 4:7; 2 Peter 1:6; etc.); we are warned about the danger of merely formal "godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5); against being a "godless person" (Hebrews 12:16). Let us remember still that the world is in the hands of the evil one (1 John 5:19), and that the one who gains God's approval is one who "walks with God" (Genesis 5:24; 6:9). Less of worldly orientation and more of old-fashioned "godliness" would do us all much good.