Ten Reasons Why Christians Must Not Be Worldly
It is hardly necessary to define what it is to be worldly. But
lest we be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin and blinded to our own
worldliness, let us remind ourselves of what the Word of God says on the
subject. To be worldly according to the apostle Paul is to walk “according to
the course of this world” (Eph 2:2) and to be “conformed to this world” (Rom
12:2a). In other words, it is to live and to conduct oneself according to the
fashion and standards of this world—in a way that is contrary to God’s revealed
will. The qualifier is important because we are in the world, though we are not
of the world (Jn 17:15-16). Thus, it is not worldly for men to wear T-shirts or
neckties; neither is it worldly for women to be involved in sports; nor is it
necessarily worldly to wear a pair of $200 shoes today; nor is it worldly to
use the computer as most people in the world do; nor is it necessarily worldly
to indulge in an expensive vacation. On the other hand, it is worldly to dress
scantily or provocatively; to drive an expensive car not because it is
reliable, but because it is a status symbol; to carry a $2,000 bag to flaunt
wealth; to engage in partying and clubbing; to be addicted to computer games or
videos; to attend glitzy wealth and investment seminars where mammon is
elevated as God; to define entertainment as worship; and to engage in
competitive sports or to shop on the Sabbath Day.
These two
lists are, of course, not exhaustive. It may even be debatable how some of the
items are classified since worldliness can hardly be scientifically defined.
Nevertheless, they are given as examples to paint a concrete picture of what
worldliness looks like lest we are tempted
to excuse our worldliness by insisting that it cannot be objectively
determined. In any case, they must not be used exclusively to determine whether
one is worldly or not. Remember that God is concerned not only with the
outward, but with our attitude. Thus Paul would have us to be transformed by
the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God (Rom 12:2b). And John likewise teaches us to “love not
the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 Jn 2:15).
But why must we not be worldly?
Here are ten simple reasons.
1. It is to Disobey God
The apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
makes it very clear in the text already alluded to: “And 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 12:2).
This is an imperative, not merely a suggestion. The same is true of the words
of the apostle John quoted above.
Christians who are worldly are disobeying God!
2. It is to Return to Wallow in the Mud
Believers have been redeemed from sin, released from damnation,
and rescued from the world. We have, in the words of Peter, “escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ” (2 Pet 2:20a). Therefore to be worldly is to be “again entangled
therein, and overcome” and “the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning” (2 Pet 2:20b). It is to be like a dog returning to eat its own
vomit; or a sow returning to wallow in the mire after being washed (2 Pet
2:22).
How grieved Paul must have been when Demas forsook him, “having
loved this present world” (2 Tim 4:10). How sad faithful ministers must be to
see those who have been plucked out of the world through the ministry of the
gospel returning to dally with the temptations of the world! What sorrow
pierces the heart of godly parents when their child who has been brought up in
the holy ways of the covenant turn away to walk in worldliness!
3. It is to Destroy Assurance of Salvation
The First Epistle of John is sometimes known as the Test of Life
Epistle. In this letter, the apostle John lists several tests that we may use
to reflect on whether we are born again and therefore truly have eternal life.
One of the tests proposed by John concerns our relationship with
the world. He writes: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and
this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 Jn 5:4). In
other words, those who are born again and have genuine saving faith will not
succumb to the lusts of the world. They will not love the world or the “things
that are in the world”: for “if any man love the world, the love of the Father
is not in him” (1 Jn 2:15). “The world
passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth
forever” he declares. (1 Jn 2:17).
This being the case, a professing believer who is worldly or finds
his satisfaction and joy in the fashion and things of the world ought to
seriously question whether he is born again. A worldly Christian who is assured
of his salvation is almost certainly deluding himself.
4. It is to Trifle with the Danger of
Losing One’s Soul
This is related to the previous point; but it addresses those who
care not for assurance. “I know not whether I am born again, but I know I am
justified because I have faith” says the worldly Christian.
But regardless of how confident he may feel,
the Lord Jesus makes it clear that one who loves the world is in danger of
losing his soul when He says, “what is a man profited, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?” (Mt 16:26). This is true for an unbeliever. But make no mistake: it
must be true for a professing believer too, for one who professes faith but
loves the world is manifestly a hypocrite. One who loves the world and the
things of this world cannot possibly love God (cf. 1 Jn 2:15). Did not the Lord
say: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon” (Mt 6:24)?
And is not a worldly Christian likely to be an unfruitful
Christian? Did not the Lord also say: “He also that received seed among the
thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Mt
13:22). An unfruitful Christian is an oxymoron for “faith without works is
dead” (Jas 2:20).
No believer should think that he can trifle with worldliness and
not be in danger of ultimately losing his soul. And let not anyone who is
worldly appeal to the doctrine of Perseverance:
for it is not sinners who will persevere, but saints. And saints, by definition
are holy—that is set apart unto God, and therefore not worldly.
5. It is to Walk Foolishly
There is such a thing as godly wisdom as there is also worldly
wisdom or “fleshly wisdom” as Paul calls it (2 Cor 1:12). But “the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor 3:19). Therefore to be worldly is to
be foolish!
Worldly wise men in Pilgrim’s Progress arrogantly advised
Christian to get rid of the heavy burden on his back by not paying too much
attention to the Book, but rather seeking help from Mr Legality in the Village
of Morality. Christian would have been lost had he not been rescued through his
own conscience and the work of Evangelist. Worldly wisdom is like that. Except
that in the modern context, Worldly Wiseman can often be found behind the pulpit
advising a happy crowd that their burdens have already been taken away at the
Cross so they are free to wander through vanity fairs and alley ways of the
world without worrying about the burdensome narrow road.
A gospel without repentance and holiness is a worldly gospel. To
use the words of James, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly,
sensual, devilish” (Jas 3:15). It appears wise and pragmatic. It appears to
work because many are being added to the church. Many are rejoicing and confident
of attaining to heaven. But it is foolishness: for the path that these will
walk on is not the narrow road that leads to life (Mt 7:14), which is also
known as the way of holiness (Isa 35:8); it is rather, the broad road that
leads to destruction (Mt 7:13). Oh what a day of sorrow and regret it will be
for those who walk in that way when the Saviour says to them: “I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mt 7:23).
6. It is to be Unlike God our Father & our Elder Brother, Christ
God the Father is not worldly. “For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world” says John (1 Jn 2:16). And neither is Christ
our Elder Brother. Referring to His elect in prayer, He says: “They are not of
the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17:16).
Those who are worldly are, therefore, unlike God our Father, and
Christ, our Elder Brother. But the children of God are those whom He foreknew,
whom He predestinated “to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:29). To this end, we are born
again and given the Holy Spirit that we “might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet
1:4). Thus, professing believers who are worldly—to borrow the language of the
apostle to the Hebrews—would be “bastards, and not sons” (Heb 12:8). Such will
not be able to enjoy fellowship with the Father or with His Son (1 Jn 1:3).
Such will not experience the fullness of joy which true believers partake of (1
Jn 1:4).
7. It is to be Like the Devil
Not only does worldliness make us unlike the
Father, it makes us like the devil, “the prince of this world” (Jn 14:30) and
the ruler of darkness (cf. Eph 6:12). What does that leave us?
The Lord Jesus declares: “I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jn
8:12). Those who walk in worldliness and darkness are the children of the
devil. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do” says the Lord to the unbelieving Jews (Jn 8:44).
No true Christian will fail to shudder and humbly repent when told
that he is a child of the devil. Yet this is exactly what a worldly Christian
can expect to hear from the Lord.
8. It is to be at Enmity With God
To be like the devil is bad enough. But it
does not end there. James informs us that those who love the world are enemies
of God. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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).
If this does not give us cause to consider if we are worldly or to
repent of worldliness, nothing will move us to do what is right regardless of
how many reasons may be forwarded.
9. It Will Mean Losing Our Testimony
The Lord Jesus says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the
salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Mt
5:13-14).
A worldly Christian is, essentially, salt that has lost its
saltiness and light that is hidden under a bushel (Mt 5:15). Such a
Christian does not only lack a godly testimony that draws others to Christ, but
embolden the children of the world: for they will be provided with fodder to
encourage themselves in their worldliness. “See, they are not so different from
us,” they will say. “They profess a creed and claim to believe in God, but they
find their delight in exactly the same things as us.” Such a Christian will
also encourage their children to live in hypocrisy. “See, it is OK to love the
things of the world, so long as long as we read the Bible and pray
occasionally, and attend worship regularly.”
Oh may we not rather be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom [we]
shine as lights in the world” (cf. Phil 2:15).
10. It is to Forfeit Boldness in the
Day of Death & of Judgement
Those who walk in love as Christ walked can expect boldness in the
day when they have to meet God in judgement. John alludes to this blessing when
he says: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day
of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn 4:17). Thus, the
spiritually-minded Christian fears not death, and expect rather to hear the
comforting words of the Lord: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter
thou into the joy of thy lord” (Mt 25:21).
Conversely, however, those who are worldly in this world contrary
to the character of Christ, cannot enjoy this boldness. Instead, death will be
a dreadful experience: for without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Heb
12:14).
Conclusion
More than two thousand seven hundred years ago, the Prophet Elijah
remonstrated against a people who had gone astray: “if the LORD be God, follow
him: but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kg 18:21). Today the same call is going
forth: only that Baal has taken a different form. The Baalism of yesteryears is
but the worldliness of today. Christian may not be worldly and be true to
Christ at the same time. Let us “love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world” (1 Jn 2:15). Let us watch against “the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 Jn 2:16). Let us resist the
counsel of “fleshly wisdom” (2 Cor 1:12) in the fear of God. Let us refuse to make decisions “according to
the flesh” (2 Cor 1:17). Let us refuse to speak in a worldly manner, eschewing
filthiness, foolish talking or crude jokes which are unbecoming of saints (Eph
5:4). By the grace of God, let us deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit 2:12).
Let us rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may bear the
image of Christ so that we may be salt of the earth and light of the world
drawing others who are caught up in the snares of the world to find freedom and
life in Christ.
—JJ Lim