18 types of people to watch out for in the church

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1–5

Timothy is at a tough spot at the church in Ephesus. People are infiltrating the church who not only teach bad doctrine but also want to hurt people. Sometimes it’s easy to not hear the emotion the Bible, but don’t forget the context of why these letters are being written.

The “last days” that are referenced above in Verse 1 began with the ascension of Jesus into heaven and will culminate in his return. Along with Christians for 2,000 years, we are living in the last days. Paul tells Timothy, in this period we are living now, times will be difficult. There will be a growing sense of evil in the hearts of people.

In Verses 2 through 5 Paul mentions 18 categories of sin for Timothy to watch out for:

1. Lovers of self. We are commanded to love God above all and also others, not ourselves. Do we live in a culture that is self-focused and self-absorbed? It’s a sign we are living in the last days.
2. Lovers of money. We are constantly bombarded with the message that money is important. It’s either a sign of status or security. Those are categories God never intended in terms of money.
3. Proud. This word means boastful. Pride is the external manifestation of the internal disposition. It’s the idea that I think more highly of myself than I ought.
4. Arrogant. This is someone who speaks loudly and makes broad, boastful claims about themselves.
5. Abusive. This means blaspheming with words. It’s using words in a way that is meant to dishonor God and tear each other up.
6. Disobedient to their parents. In our culture there’s an ungodly idea of not disciplining children. It results in children who don’t honor their parents.
7. Ungrateful. This word literally means “without grace.”
8. Unholy. This is not being set apart for Jesus.
9. Heartless. This means there’s no family affection at all. Have you ever been around youth who had such a rough up bringing that they’re pathologically unattached? They don’t have a conscience or look at others with any sense of affection.
10. Unappeasable. This means they can’t come to covenant. If you wrong them, there’s nothing you can ever do to appease their wrath and anger. There are people in the church who are energized by conflict. No matter how many times you meet with them to resolve a dispute, it isn’t going to help matters because the conflict gives them joy.
11. Slanderous. This is falsely accusing someone. In the English language, the root word is the same root we get for the word “devil.” What does the devil ultimately do to those of us who are in Christ? He falsely accuses us. He tells us we are unrighteous in our standing before God.
12. Without self-control. This is being all over the place in so many different areas of life. You can’t be steady and control yourself.
13. Brutal. This is no love or compassion.
14. Not loving good. Loving evil instead.
15. Treacherous. They’re traitors that pose as loyal to the church and Jesus but inside their heart is treasonous. They’re there for ulterior motives and ultimately they will break relationships and hurt the ones they claim to love.
16.  Reckless. Rash people who are here one day and gone the next. It’s a character of ungodliness because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
17. Swollen with conceit. This is being puffed up.
18. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. A junk drawer category for people who love pleasure more than God.

Don’t pursue the posers

“Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:5

There’s only one category of people we’re ever instructed to avoid, and it’s posers like this: those who proclaim to be Christians but don’t live a Christ-like lifestyle.

God always works from the inside out. The Bible teaches that what we really need isn’t new behavior, but a new heart. It’s healthy to create boundaries and separation from these people. We’re never directed to avoid people who don’t know Jesus.

I’m convinced that, in the American evangelical church, we’ve got this inside out: We continue to pursue “Christians” who give no evidence of being in Christ and keep them in company with us instead of dealing with them in the way Scripture exhorts us to. That is to discipline them and remove them from fellowship. Then we keep non-believers at bay. That is absolutely contradictory to what God would have us do.

Creepers gonna creep

“For among them are those that creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:6–7

I call these people creepers but they’re also predators who come into the church with an external form of godliness yet when their heart is unveiled, live out these 18 ugly sins. They’re attempting to sleep with women who are weak-willed and burdened with sin.

A wolf comes into the church to lead disciples astray, to draw them away from Jesus and the church. Posers and creepers don’t want to draw anyone away, but take advantage of the people who are already there.

3 points

1. Ministry is difficult because the times are difficult. I’ve met way to many people who have a distorted, almost nirvana-like view of ministry. It’s hard because these are the times we live in. Not to say there will not be seasons of peace, fruitfulness, and prosperity, but if ministry ever becomes easy, something probably isn’t right.
2. There are posers and creepers in our church. They have always been there. You might say, “I don’t know them.” That’s the point; they’re not evident and obvious. When you find them, report them because we are called to protect our people. Then avoid them. It’s not your role to fix them.
3. Our charge is to protect members, not convert creepers. We don’t have to fix all the broken people who come through the doors to hijack our churches. We have to love them—Jesus takes care of fixing them.

Want more? Dig into the Greek etymology behind the characteristics listed in Verses 2, 3, and 4 over at Blue Letter Bible.

This is Pastor Dave’s seventh post on 2 Timothy. Check out parts one, two, three, four, five, and six.