2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

That is a large list of characteristics and behaviors. As you read the list there may be  a person or even a group of people who come to mind. Look closely and you will find the negative expression of nearly everything we are called to be in Christ. They are selfish, we are to be selfless. They are truce breaks, we are to be covenant keepers. They are false accusers, we are asked to walk in truth.

The one that is the easiest for me to spot these days are those who despise good. Just as soon as the news coverage starts focusing on natural affection, people helping people in need, there is a class of people who stage events to do violent things to draw attention away from anything good. They know that spectacle draws attention to coverage, to attention, and they want attention to spread their evil intentions. Easy to spot.

The one that bothers me the most is the one that is the hardest to identify. That is the last one, the form of godliness without God. Claiming power without obedience of faith, denial of the One who has the power. It bothers me more than the rest because the power of God is unto salvation and those who follow men and women that have the form but not the presence will deny the lost God’s salvation.

Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.