The Curse and Cure
of
Worldliness
Worldliness is a terrible problem for mankind. It is a problem
that reaches everyone: preacher, politician, parent and the youth of our land.
Worldliness is to be secular, unspiritual, materialistic,
and irreligious. Paul described worldliness in these
words, "in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in
the sons of disobedience." (Eph 2:2) Worldliness is "ungodliness and
worldly lust." God's grace teaches us to, "deny
ungodliness and worldly lusts." It shows us how to "live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age." (Tit 2:12) Jesus,
"gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and
purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." (Tit
2:14)
The curse of
worldliness: Worldliness relates to that which is not heavenly or spiritual. Many problems and much suffering result
from worldliness. James wrote what are likely the
strongest words in the Bible about worldliness when he said, very flatly and
very plainly, "...know ye not that the friendship
of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (Jas 4:4) We all must
realize that a worldly Christian is a useless Christian. We are to supply the
hands and the feet and the
voices that Christ
works
through today. Therefore, there is
no room for worldliness in our life!
Worldliness leads to murder. The daily murders
that you read about and hear about are the result of worldliness. Think about
the hurt caused in families where murders have taken place. "And even as
they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all
unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing
the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are
deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice
them." (Rom 1:28-32)
Worldliness leads to a materialistic society where people cheat,
steal, extort, and leave God out of every aspect of life. The scriptures teach
us to "love not the world, nor the things of the world." By
inspiration of God John wrote, "Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all
that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is
passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides
forever." (I Jn 2:15-17)
Worldliness has resulted in immodesty, pornography,
dancing, thefts, drugs, immorality, rapes, child abuse and divorce.
The cure of worldliness: Our escape from the world is through
Jesus Christ. There is no other one to whom we can go to find an answer to the
problem of worldliness. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of
eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Jn 6:68-69)
To escape worldliness Christians must make a conscious decision
not to be squeezed into the mold of the world. "I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, accept-able to God, which is your reasonable service. And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God." (Rom 12:1-2) There are places Christians cannot go, people to be
avoided and practices that Christians must not involve themselves in.
To escape worldliness Christians must use God's way of escape.
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God
is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to
bear it." (I Cor
To escape worldliness Christians must develop a strong faith.
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory
that has overcome the world – our faith." (I Jn 5:4) Faith comes as God's
word is implanted into our hearts. (Jas 1:21) Christians must do all they can
to strengthen their faith. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God." (Rom
To escape worldliness Christians must abandon sin. As we renounce
worldliness and have no more to do with it we are able to "put off,
concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you
put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness
and holiness." (Eph 4:22-24)
To escape worldliness Christians must come out and be separate from
the world. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what
fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with
darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has
a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the
To escape worldliness Christians are taught: (1) to be steadfast
and unmovable in God's service (I Cor 15:58), (2) to avoid a love of the world
(I Jn 2:15-17), (3) to keep yourself pure and clean (I Tim 5:22), (4) to put to
death sinful habits (Col 3:5-6), (5) to bear the fruit of the spirit (Gal
5:22-23), and (6) to be a light for Jesus. (Phil 2:15-16)
Those that follow Jesus must choose to serve Him. (Josh 24:15) To
become a Christians you must hear the gospel (Rom