Worldliness
Posted by Rooted Students on Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Over the past few weeks we have spent time studying the single greatest danger to the spiritual health of all Christians, worldliness. In fact, John warned Christians about just how dangerous worldliness truly is..."Do not love the world or things in the world. If anyone love the world the love of the Father [God] is no in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of possessions - is not from the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of the Father abides [or lives] forever." (I John 2:15-17)
So, we see that loving the world is a very dangerous thing. Don't believe me? Just look at Demas! He is mentioned throughout the New Testament as having been Paul's friend and companion on his missionary journeys. Sadly, just as Paul was near the end of his life and in his most lonely hour, Demas left him. We find that Demas didn't leave him so he could continue serving the Lord in ministry, or even to go help other believers. No, Demas left Paul because when push came to shove...he just loved "this world" too much to put it all on the line for Christ (II Tim. 4:10). So, if someone who Paul trusted could fall into worldliness, we all are at risk.
So, what is worldliness? How do we avoid it?
Worldliness is a hard thing to define. But, at the same time very easy to define. The best way to define worldliness is to call it idolatry [making something a god in your life]. Anytime we put something at a higher place of importance in our heart we than Jesus Christ, we are making an idol of that thing or person. When we do this we are running the risk of becoming worldly. So, the first step to becoming worldly is to not give God His proper place in your life. The second step is much easier to make once we have already taken the first step toward becoming worldly. The second step is whenever we openly, and happily participate in things that reflect a denial of who Jesus really is. So...does that mean we can never watch non-Christian movies or play videogames? No, we can! But the standard we must set up is that we do not participate in or relish things that are openly hostile to Jesus.
Right now you are probably thinking...."Okay Dayton, how in the WORLD do I do that? I can be IN THE WORLD but not actually be WORLDLY?"
Yes! Here is how...we must make this phrase our life's motto: "Coram Deo!"
Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that means, "before the face or watching eyes of God." If we go through this life understanding that everything we do, say, think, God sees...that changes everything. That should change the way we consume multimedia, the way we talk, and the way we act. Reason being, we understand that our purpose in this life is to glorify God by worship and obedience. Don't believe me? Just take a look at this passage... "This is the end of the matter...Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
So, if we live our lives and go through this world with Coram Deo in mind, we will avoid worldliness. We must understand that we can never do things that Scripture says we should not do. Also, on things that Scripture doesn't specifically talk about we should remember that God is watching and so we should follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I challenge you to jot down the Scripture passages we have looked at and maybe even write Coram Deo somewhere people can see...it could start a conversation that allows you to explain why Christians are different.
So, we see that loving the world is a very dangerous thing. Don't believe me? Just look at Demas! He is mentioned throughout the New Testament as having been Paul's friend and companion on his missionary journeys. Sadly, just as Paul was near the end of his life and in his most lonely hour, Demas left him. We find that Demas didn't leave him so he could continue serving the Lord in ministry, or even to go help other believers. No, Demas left Paul because when push came to shove...he just loved "this world" too much to put it all on the line for Christ (II Tim. 4:10). So, if someone who Paul trusted could fall into worldliness, we all are at risk.
So, what is worldliness? How do we avoid it?
Worldliness is a hard thing to define. But, at the same time very easy to define. The best way to define worldliness is to call it idolatry [making something a god in your life]. Anytime we put something at a higher place of importance in our heart we than Jesus Christ, we are making an idol of that thing or person. When we do this we are running the risk of becoming worldly. So, the first step to becoming worldly is to not give God His proper place in your life. The second step is much easier to make once we have already taken the first step toward becoming worldly. The second step is whenever we openly, and happily participate in things that reflect a denial of who Jesus really is. So...does that mean we can never watch non-Christian movies or play videogames? No, we can! But the standard we must set up is that we do not participate in or relish things that are openly hostile to Jesus.
Right now you are probably thinking...."Okay Dayton, how in the WORLD do I do that? I can be IN THE WORLD but not actually be WORLDLY?"
Yes! Here is how...we must make this phrase our life's motto: "Coram Deo!"
Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that means, "before the face or watching eyes of God." If we go through this life understanding that everything we do, say, think, God sees...that changes everything. That should change the way we consume multimedia, the way we talk, and the way we act. Reason being, we understand that our purpose in this life is to glorify God by worship and obedience. Don't believe me? Just take a look at this passage... "This is the end of the matter...Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
So, if we live our lives and go through this world with Coram Deo in mind, we will avoid worldliness. We must understand that we can never do things that Scripture says we should not do. Also, on things that Scripture doesn't specifically talk about we should remember that God is watching and so we should follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I challenge you to jot down the Scripture passages we have looked at and maybe even write Coram Deo somewhere people can see...it could start a conversation that allows you to explain why Christians are different.
