Since I was a teenager I have marveled at the love that so many who call themselves Christians have for the world. They enjoy its entertainment, they wear its immodest clothing, and they follow hard after its philosophies. And, in fact, I have struggled with my own love for the world as I have traversed through this life.
Worldliness seeps into so many areas of our lives. Not only do we love our worldly entertainment that espouses such things as sexual immorality, profane language, and sorcery but we also find it tempting to trust in human wisdom and philosophies for solving our problems. We are quick to join causes that have anti-biblical core values. (Currently, the Black Lives Matters movement is the perfect example of this. People who call themselves believers are standing in solidarity with a movement that goes against all that the Bible teaches.)
We also see such a great passion to be in line with the fashions of this world that women who call themselves Christians bare their almost naked bodies on social media, thinking nothing of it. They present themselves as sexual objects, putting men at great risk for sin as they navigate these almost pornographic photos. How tragic this is!
Worldliness has made its way into our conversations, which are often about nothing that really matters, and also into our homes, where we focus on grades and sports and self-esteem instead of Christlikeness, self-sacrifice, and serving Jesus.
It’s literally everywhere and most of us probably aren’t even aware or have given it that much thought. The need for separating ourselves from the world is rarely taught in churches anymore–even solid, biblical ones.
Today I’d like to take a look at some of the costs of turning away from the world, and then look at some of the rewards of this life-changing decision.
If we purposely choose to not love the world, it will bring some unpleasant consequences, such as–
You sacrifice being cool. People think you are old-fashioned and fuddy duddy at best and extremely strange at worst.
You sacrifice friends. Most friends, even “Christian” ones, do not want to be around someone who is sold out for the Lord and turning their back on the world. In their eyes, this eliminates all the fun and brings wayyyy too much guilt. They don’t want anyone making them feel guilty about their own worldliness.
You sacrifice worldly gain. There are often times when the Christian is passed over for promotions because of their biblical stand. They are ignored, antagonized, and mocked because of their stances against certain things that just aren’t popular.
You sacrifice popularity. And this may be the hardest one for most. Everyone wants to be popular. It is a powerful thing to be liked by others. Swimming against the flow is not for the faint of heart.
But not loving the world brings many wonderful consequences, too–
You deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ. For example, I am amazed at the growth that took place when I was willing to surrender my entertainment to the Lord. Because I have experienced this, I continue to carefully examine any entertainment in light of the Word. I would much prefer to be close to the Lord than to experience an hour or two of pleasure.
You develop far more meaningful friendships. Friendships that are based on a mutual desire to please the Lord, no matter what the cost, are far more deeper and much sweeter than those based on common interests or anything else. The fellowship I have with like-minded friends is far, far more richer than anything I have ever experienced.
You learn to enjoy life in a fuller way. When I was filled with worldly entertainment, I scoffed at those who enjoyed simple things or certain types of music. But as I have eliminated much that was worldly in life, I have found a whole new world of wholesome things to enjoy. What once would have seemed simple or mundane has blossomed into interesting and far more entertaining and enjoyable than any blockbuster movie or top ten song.
You learn how to think again. I believe that intellect and critical thinking has been greatly stifled by modern entertainment. When you start to examine things in light of scripture, you start your brain on the path to critically thinking. This is important in light of all aspects of our lives and it’s a great exercise for your brain in order to live the best life you can that is pleasing to the Lord.
You look different than the world, which gives opportunities to explain why. When someone says they are a Christian but they do everything an unbeliever does, including dressing immodestly, watching the same ungodly movies, listening to the same vulgar radio station, and joining the same anti-biblical causes, there are certainly no questions asked. But looking different affords us many opportunities to share the Gospel. If we have been transformed, then we should look transformed.
Worldliness is something that is not discussed much these days in the evangelical world. And yet it yields such a deadly blow to any spiritual growth. Filling our minds with the things of this world, looking like this world, being like this world renders us spiritually stunted and utterly ineffective for use in God’s Kingdom.
We often talk in our family about how, even in our quest to eliminate worldliness, we are probably far more worldly than we even realize. It is amazing how that world sneaks in in the most unexpected places.
But the first step for us all is recognizing this and making efforts to eradicate it small step by small step.
I know, from my own experience, that, if you are genuine believer, you will not be sorry! The rewards of turning away from the world far, far outweigh the costs. Giving up the world as we choose to follow Christ is such a small price to pay for the wonderful rewards that are ours when we do so!
_____________________________________________________
Here are some verses that explain how worldliness should have no part of a Christian’s life. I hope that you will find them convicting and confirming of what I have said above–
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Romans 12:2 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.
I Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;
Ephesians 1:1-5 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
I John 2:15 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.
Wow so true and very sad thank you for your views totally well written and a great encouragement.
Thank you, Margaret! You are such an encouragement to me!
👍🏻
Excellent – always love your thoughts, Leslie! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
Great blog post, Leslie. You are so spot on. “If we have been transformed, then we should look transformed.” So true. Thank you for writing this post. Getting ready to tweet it now.
Thank you!
What anti-Biblical beliefs is the Black Lives Matter movement espousing?
They are a pro-abortion, pro-gay, marxist organization. They promote group repentance of sin instead of individual repentance. Here’s a good article that kind of sums it up—
https://thefederalist.com/2020/06/11/you-can-be-christian-you-can-be-marxist-but-you-cant-be-both/
Thank you for your stand. I agree 100 percent. I’m trying to find more on BLM and wonder if you have a good recourse to show what they are really about. I’d like to share it with a few people.
This article is good—
https://thefederalist.com/2020/06/11/you-can-be-christian-you-can-be-marxist-but-you-cant-be-both/
Also, Jordan Hall wrote this on Facebook which was extremely helpful—-
“Not Too Long to Read: My life’s work has been studying and teaching on cults and false religions. The bulk of my contribution on this planet has been in classifying, describing, and polemicizing religious movements. I have written, preached, and lectured on this topic every day for more than a decade. The article on the Chrisitan counter-cult movement on Wikipedia makes note of my work on this subject, as well as a thousand other sources available at the press of the keyboard. That said…
PLEASE UNDERSTAND:
I am trying desperately to get people to grasp that “wokeness” (social justice, political correctness, identity politics, Critical Theory, etc) is not a POLITICAL movement. It is not a CULTURAL movement. It is not a SOCIAL movement. And it is not a JUSTICE movement. “Wokeness” is **entirely** from top to bottom a RELIGIOUS movement.
Wokeness is – in and of itself – rising to become the world’s greatest world religion. It is probably, now as we speak, more widespread and powerful a force than Christianity, Judaism, and Islam combined. The Religion of Wokeness largely retains its power and influence by enticing adherents to these world religions to participate in it, unaware that they are engaging in a foreign religion and not a social movement as they’ve been led to believe. Like most cults, it is sucking people in long before they understand they’ve embraced a religion and not an ethos.
The Religion of Wokeness has every distinctive feature of religion known by theologians, sociologists, and cultural anthropologists alike.
HEAR ME OUT. Wokeness has the following characteristics common to all religions:
SACRED LITERATURE – Chiefly, these works are written by the Woke Apostles including Richard Delgado, Derrick Bell, Kimberle Crenshaw, Patricia Williams, Gustavo Guttierez, and going all the way back to Karl Marx and Frederich Engels.
DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINE – Critical Race Theory, Cultural Marxism, Intersectionality, Socialism, Environmentalism, and virtually anything that limits personal freedom in the name of the collective good and breeds resentment and conflict between “identity groups”; Wokeness is a religion of war and conquest. It is not a religion of love and understanding; it is a religion of hatred and disunity.
A UNIQUE THEOLOGICAL LEXICON (words unique to their teaching) – These include “white privilege,” “whiteness,” “diversity,” “inclusion,” “equity.” Additionally, their lexicon defines words differently than their common dictionary definitions including “tolerance,” “justice,” and “oppression,” interpreted in ways far removed from their intended meaning.
CHARACTERIZATION OF NON-ADHERENTS AS DAMNED – Like most religions, Wokeness clearly separates between “sheep” and “goats” or “wheat” and “tares.” But unlike Christianity that views non-adherents as worthy of conversion, it is more like Islam that views non-adherents as worthy of destruction without assimilation (turn on the news; the followers of Woke Religion seek daily to crucify those who do not conform to their standards).
WORSHIP THAT INCLUDES KNEELING, BOWING, CHANTING, AND SINGING – Woke rallies are every bit as much a worship experience as anything you’ll see in organized religion. In mass crowds they can be seen bowing on one knee, placing their face to the ground as signs of their zealotry, chanting protest songs (their worship hymns) or repeating their liturgical, repetitious incantations (“No justice, no peace,” “Say his name,” “I can’t breathe”). These have replaced their Lord’s Prayer and rosary prayers.
CONFESSION OF SIN AND ATONEMENT: Like Christians believe in Original Sin (inherited by Adam and atoned by Jesus), Woke Religion confesses inherited “white guilt” from ancestors that must be atoned for. “Privilege” is a mortal sin that requires confession. Atonement must be made by financial reparations and surrender of privilege for redistribution.
MESSIAH FIGURES AND MARTYRS: Christians have Christ, Muslims have Muhammad, Jews have Moses and the Prophets, Buddhists have the Buddha, etc. Woke Religion has their sacred martyrs George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and a roster of slain prophets going back to Martin Luther King, Jr.
CONCEPTS OF BLASPHEMY: Christians have the Third Commandment. But, like Islam, Woke Religion allows no discussion of their martyr’s character. Speaking of George Floyd’s criminal recidivism, Michael Brown’s assault on the police, or MLK’s bisexual orgies and sex trafficking are punishable by full ex-communication and anathema. Their messiahs and martyrs must be considered above criticism.
ICONOCLASM: Iconoclasm (Greek for “image breaking”) is common in all religious fundamentalism. Protestants despise icons of Popery. The Catholics destroyed Middle Eastern art in the Crusades. Islam currently destroys art wherever it is in power. But Woke Religion has the worst form of Iconoclasm of any religion, tearing down or vandalizing statues and monuments to anyone and everyone not participatory in the Religion of Wokeness. All images and art depicting anything less than Wokeness must be destroyed with religious fervency. Their destruction of cultural symbols is on par with the Barbarians who sacked Rome and immediately toppled their marble monuments.
This religion – Wokeness – is consolidating forces on both the political left and political right, from both urban and rural areas, and people of all religious faiths. It is the New World Religion. And if it is not opposed on RELIGIOUS grounds rather than only on political, economic, social, or cultural grounds it will consume the world in short order.
And like most religions, Wokeness has an eschatology. But their End Times hope of a utopian paradise is in reality a draconian hellscape and hellacious dystopia. If Western Civilization – or any civilization – is to survive the forces of this new and dangerous movement it must first realize that it is – first and foremost – a religion. And it is a religion with the capacity for power and domination like the world has never seen.”