Php 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, (19) whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
These enemies of the cross Paul is speaking of are not “outsiders.” At first reading that is what we would expect. Surely he has out and out pagans in mind who hate Christ and His people. Not so. You see it in Paul’s phrase, “and now tell you even weeping.” They are people who “walk” but not in the walk of Christ. This is particularly grievous to Paul because these enemies are people who claim to be Christians.
Notice also that Paul says they are “many.” Think about that carefully. Not just a few, but many. Many who? Many people who once professed Christ and who probably still claim to be Christians. But their driving force is their flesh, their appetite “god.”
Let’s not be naive. As it was in Paul’s day, so it has always been right down through the history of the church. Expect it. Don’t be shocked when people who you once believed were brothers and sisters in Christ choose for the world. Yes, it is something be grieve over. No one likes to wake up one day and discover that someone you were sure was a friend in Christ turns out to be walking on Broadway.
I am sure that this is a primary reason that victims of RASNs are so often mistreated by their “Christian” brethren. We thought they were fellow travelers with us on the Narrow Way, but it turns out they never were.