Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: Are You Living In The World, Or In God?

Hello, and welcome to Saturday Scripture Gold. Thank you for taking time out of your busy weekend to drop by!

An ever-present problem for Christians in any age is that of "worldliness." It is difficult to live in the world but not of the world (John 17:11-16). The Christian is to put away the world since he, or she is a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and all things are to become new. The Christian is also to be unspotted from the world (James 1:27), and separate from the worldly (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

The Church at Corinth was plagued with many problems because of its worldliness. They had not transformed their thinking; it was still carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). It led them to allow an adulterer in their fellowship and , if left unchecked, would lead to their ultimate demise (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).

Any church that has problems has worldliness. Worldliness is not just seen in what we normally think of as worldly actions. Worldly attitudes are even more prevalent (Note the "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5:19-21).

Let's take a closer look at the term "Worldliness." As it is set forth in the New Testament, it is any conduct or thought which is hostile to and/or antagonistic toward God.

When one of God's children engages in or longs for anything in this world which is hostile toward God, he/she is guilty of worldliness. Every individual has to make a choice such as Moses did (Hebrews 11:24-26). One who longingly looks to the world is unfit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

The Christian is able to discern good and evil; to know the difference between right and wrong, worldly and godly (Hebrews 5:12-14). He has to hate evil (Romans 12:9)! Even though he is surrounded by the world, he must be careful not to be influenced by it so that evil becomes good and good becomes evil.

As you can see, the attractions of this world are dangerous. Whatever absorbs one's thoughts and ties him to this world is worldliness! But how does one going about determining what is worldly, or not?

I'd like to offer some guidelines to help determine "worldliness" below:

Revelation - Ask: Is this obviously wrong? Human wisdom is not a reliable guide. Therefore, consider passages that detail those things that are obviously wrong (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-9).

Identity - Ask: If I do this will it make me look worldly (Romans 12:1-2)? If I do this will I appear before others as a devoted Christian or a person of the world? If it will make me look worldly, then I can't afford to do it.

Doubt - Ask: If I do this, will it leave me with a clear conscience (Romans 14:23)? Do I have some doubts about it? If I cannot do it with a clear conscience, I better leave it alone.

Influence - Ask: If I do this will it likely have a weakening influence upon others? (Check out: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33; 8:7-13; Matthew 18:6-7) If my conduct is likely to weaken others or cause them to stray, I better not engage in it.

Control - Ask: If I do this will it produce in me an excessive fleshly appetite (Colossians 3:5-6)? Such an appetite is one that is unrestrained or out of control. If I partake of this, am I likely to lose proper control of my thoughts and actions? Will I act in a way that is unbecoming to a Christian?

Association - Ask: If I do this will it bring me under the weakening influence of evil companions (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)? After all, evil companions (bad company) corrupt (1 Corinthians 15:33). You are not only KNOWN by the company you keep, but you BECOME like the company you keep!

In conclusion, I'd like to leave you with some final words regarding "worldliness" by Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) who was one of the most remarkable men of his time—a mathematician, evangelical theologian, economist, ecclesiastical, political, and social reformer all in one.

"You cannot destroy love for the world merely by showing its emptiness. Even if we could do so, that would lead only to despair. The first world–centered love of our hearts can be expelled only by a new love and affection—for God and from God. The love of the world and the love of the Father cannot dwell together in the same heart. But the love of the world can be driven out only by the love of the Father."

Let's pray:

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi