THE CHRISTIAN AND WORLDLINESS

 In a world of changing values and fashions, the believer is expected to live a life of non-conformity to the world (Rom. 12:2). A believer who has made Heaven his goal should steer clear from worldliness in its various forms and shapes. Why? Because worldliness will pollute (defile, corrupt) you and disqualify you from entering Heaven.

Today, we are going to look at “THE CHRISTIAN AND WORLDLINESS.” A believer who has made Heaven his goal should steer clear from worldliness in its various forms and shapes.

 

To be effectively sanctified, you must separate yourself from the world.

 

In 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 God said, "Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, 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."

 

In Revelations 18:4 God said, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

 

These words, "come out from among them, and be ye separate" is a command from the LORD to every Christian.

 

Then we have that very strong passage in I John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, 1) the lust of the flesh, and 2) the lust of the eyes, and 3) the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

 

The Bible says, "...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore, will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God" (Jam. 4:4).

 

1 Corinthians 7:32 says, “Be free from the concerns of this life.” 

 

Here is the truth: a worldly Christian is a useless Christian. He is of no value to the world and no good to God. No man can serve two masters!

 

What is Worldliness? Worldliness is doing things like the people of the world (like the unbelievers). Worldliness is anything that connects you to the world. 

 

Worldliness consists of the desire to be a friend of the world (Jam. 4:4), and the love of all that is in the world. Worldliness is a matter of the attitude of the heart in thinking and dealing with things. 

 

For instance, if you ladies wear a new dress in church in order to attract attention to yourself, that is worldliness! You are trying to attract attention to yourself, just as the world continually seeks to do. If the opinions of others mean much to you in this matter of dress or conduct, then you are worldly. 

 

You may never drink, dance, smoke, or go to a nightclub; but you are just as worldly as if you did. On the other hand, if you wear a dowdy, out-of-style dress to church in order for people to believe that you are spiritual, that is worldliness, too.

 

If you must have a new car every year in order to keep up with the latest style, that is worldliness. If you trade your car each year just to keep up with fashion, you are worldly. If you are hurt because people do not notice you, that is worldliness. 

 

If a TV program conflicts with something that you know the Lord wants you to do---your attendance at church or prayer meeting, or to help your neighbor---that is worldliness. You have chosen that in place of the Lord's will. That is idolatry.

 

What makes a thing worldly? Listen to John again, "All that is in the world...is not of the Father." 

That is the thing! You exclude the Father from your thinking, and when you do that you are worldly, no matter what you do. You do some act or take some step or make some plans without the Father, without taking Him into consideration, or concerning yourself with His will. That is worldliness! It may be a perfectly innocent thing in itself, but when you exclude the Father, it is of the world.

 

Worldliness is spiritual adultery. You cannot be married to Christ and at the same time be joined to the world (Jam. 4:4).

 

Once you are worldly by any measure, you have declared yourself an enemy of God. You are not expected to do what the world is doing. Rather you are expected to do things according to God’s Word. Jesus said, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil…” (Ex. 23:2).

 

How do the people of this world do things? They do things not according to the Word of God (Rom. 8:1-2).

 

What are the warnings against worldliness? 1) God commands all not to love the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17; Col. 3:1-3). The lust of the flesh is of the world. The lust of the flesh is everything that appeals to your appetite, and involves excessive desires for food, drink, sex, and anything else that satisfies physical needs (Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; 1 Jn. 2:15-17).

 

The lust of the eyes is of the world. The lust of the eyes mostly involves materialism, coveting whatever we see that we don’t have, and envying those who have what we want.

 

The pride of life is of the world. The pride of life is any ambition for that which puffs us up and puts us on the throne of our own lives.

 

“…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2).

 

What should be the Christian attitude to worldly amusements?

1. The Christian should be separated and distinct from those whose affections and desires are worldly (Rom. 12:2).

 

2. Carnal festivities are an abomination to the LORD (1 Cor. 10:7; Gal 5:19-21; Rom. 1:32).

 

3. Christians are to please God and not men. Christians are to live lives that help and not hinder their brethren (1 Cor. 10:23-24, 1 Cor. 10:31-33).

 

4. Christians are to shun worldly pleasures and amusements (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

 

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.

 

Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG).