What Is An Infidel?
The word ‘infidel’ is used twice in the King James version of the bible, both times by the apostle Paul.
Erroneous doctrine proclaims that this passage applies to everyone as opposed to the widows who Paul speaks about both in the verses before and after in 1st Timothy chapter 5. So is this correct? Let’s look at the ramifications if it is.
1st Timothy 5:8 says “if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
Taken out of context in a single verse such as here lends itself to:
Unrighteous Judgment (because we see what they are not doing)
Self-Justification (I don’t have to respect you because of…)
And Condemnation when this verse is used as a weapon to draw attention to a perceived sin.
Ultimately, the fruit is contention, unforgiveness, & bitterness all because it is both wielded from and received in a place of hurt producing offense.
According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance;
The word Infidel comes from ‘alpha’ (as a negegitive prefix) and ‘pistosis’ Which is defined as: disbelieving, i.e. without Christian faith specially, a heathen; an untrustworthy person that believe not, faithless, an incredible thing, an unbeliever.
The word provide comes from the Greek words ‘pro’ and ‘noieo’ meaning; to consider in advance, i.e. Look out for beforehand (actively, by way of maintenance for others; middle voice by way of circumspection for oneself) — provide (for).
So clearly 1st Timothy 5:8 has a broader scope of prevision rather than by financial means and failing to provide in other areas such as spiritual or looking out for against the evils of the world, would make one an infidel if he chose not to provide for his brother’s widow and or her children. Nevertheless, many people are deceived by such for the love of money is the root of all evil and the carnally minded teach such for this is how they see they world. Forget not that a man can not serve two masters for ye will hate one and love the other. We cannot serve mammon and Christ. So how would we serve mammon? By depending upon it for we are to have faith in God alone.
In 2 Corinthians 6, the apostle Paul likens an infidel to one who has fallen away into the world and in turn separated themselves from God. That would be enmity with God being of a carnal mind. To live being unrighteous, in darkness, touching unclean things, living in idolatry, and to being in fellowship with Belial; who’s name in Hebrew means ‘worthless’ and in Greek means ‘wickedness’, in essence, that is the devil.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
That’s some serious condemnation to be throwing around saints. If only the subscribers of this position were to not behold their faces in a glass and be overtaken by their own glory, they would remember what manner of men they used to be and would not bring not forth railing accusation against the brethren and grieve the Holy Spirit.
To say such about another brother is to say in your heart I am Holy and you are not; “thank you Lord I am not as they are”.
“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:9-14 KJV
The pharisee ‘righteously’ compared himself to extortioners, unjust, adulterers, and publicans. Are they all not sinners, heathens, unbelievers? If they where believers they would not be in sin. Therefore, it is the same principle as calling someone an infidel, even in your heart and passing judgment upon them becoming a respecter of persons.
If we love God with all our heart our mind your soul, then why do we hurt him? We are to be holy as he is Holy and God is love. In 1st Timothy chapter 5, the Apostle Paul is instructing Timothy in the requirements of providing for widows in the family as in if a man’s brother died what would become of the brothers family.
“Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” – 1 Timothy 5:5-8 KJV
The following verses of that chapter clarify the age rage to take in widows, whether they are of good report in the church and so forth.
“Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan.” – 1 Timothy 5: 9-15 KJV
Satan tries to seduce us into judging one another all the time and by taking scripture out of context is a common way he does such. We have to study to show ourselves approved and rightfully divide the word of God saints.When we call each other infidels, we do so to insult and illicit a prescribed response of self- justification. Therefore, the devil can manipulate situations through our emotions and bring both parties into sin.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” – Luke 6:45 KJV
Folks please remember the devil is like a roaming lion looking for whom he can devour. Take heed to be vigilant as well as patient, think before ye speak. We have to be mindful not to consume one another by arguing and professing ourselves to be wise otherwise, we become fools in the eyes of God. If you find that you see other people as infidels, then the problem is you, repent and be made whole, purify your heart and thereby cleanse your double mind,because that’s really what the issue at hand is, a heart issue.
For who are you to judge another mans servant?
Who are you to judge someone’s righteousness? If you have, you have compared them to you. ‘For if we would judge ourselves we shall not be judged’. The Lord’s grace is a subjective gift to each of us for we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Yet those who are carnally minded rationalize that if you do not ahead unto their ideals, you are in sin.
What keeps us from revelation of Jesus Christ is our viewpoint to God’s word. How we read the bible determines who we are in Christ. If we read such as a victim then everyone is a perpetrator. If we read the word as a teacher then pride makes us into the greatest and everyone else is a pupil. But if we receive His words as children then we are servants and therefore, approved in the father’s eyes. So how you read the word demonstrates where is your heart is in Christ Jesus.
Resist the devil and he will flee.
May the grace of our lord Jesus Christ be upon you all, God bless and take care.