Wednesday, 31 August 2005

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    Declaration
    By Steven Curtis Chapman
    Bring It On
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    One of the terms that Christians toss around a lot is the "world." We are told that we should not behave like "the world," that Christians should be in the world but not of the world, that we shouldn't do this or that because "the world" does it. An Amishman doesn't drive a car, or have electricity because that is "worldly." I've heard the same reasoning applied to how we should or should not dress, the music we should not listen to, and a host of other behaviours that we should or should not do. Now, what exactly is "the world?" The society we live in? The culture around us? Is "the world" different for me than for a Christian in a different country, society, and culture? "The world" always seems to have a sort of vague reference to the mass of people in the world around us, and we're somehow supposed to be unlike them.

    Sometime I would like to hear someone define what exactly "the world" is, because I've never heard a clear definition of it, much less a definition that would justify going to great lengths and inconveniences to avoid being like it. Some of the things the church tells me are wrong are apparently "wrong" for no other reason than that most of the people around us do them, which somehow makes it "worldly." Even if most of the people around us do something and not all of them are Christians, that by itself is not a good enough reason to say that something is wrong.

    But now we get back to my original question: what exactly is "the world?" I'm told in the New Testament not to be conformed to it, so it would help if I knew what it was. Comments would be great, advice would be better, advice in the form of comments would be awesome.

Comments (7)

  • countrygal101

    I think the "world" means people that do not follow Jesus. We are not to be like these people or follow after people that are not christians. So yes we live among unsaved people but we shouldn't act as they do. I don't know...maybe this doesn't even make sense......
  • qwertle
    matt, one of the reasons i love your site is because you always come up with these weird yet practical questions.  helps make ppl think. and yes, ppl like me.  and yes, i know the next thing that's gonna come out of your mouth will be something about how thinking is good and how i should try it sometime, etc, etc...  yeah. :)  thanks.
  • shellElynn
    Good question. I had this exact debate/conversation not long ago with someone. Unfortunately, (but not too surprisingly) we didn't come up with any concrete answers. I do think that there's a danger in making that your focal point though. That's where the devil wants us, is sitting around wondering what the world is doing, and who the world is, and how to not be like them, and what to do so we're not like them, and blah, blah, blah. Let's just try keeping our eyes on Jesus and see what happens. I think if our hearts are truly turned to him, then we'll live in a way that honors Him.
  • CStrubhar
    I totally agree with ShellElynn.  I think the Bible says to not be conformed to the world, BUT be separated unto God.  To me, it doesn't matter what the "world" is if we are completely, 100% obedient to God and desiring all of Him with all of us.  We will be going in the opposite direction as the "world" not parelell to it, moving a little closer, and a little closer as we journey.
  • gracegiven
    For me, in the world of blurred boundaries, "the world" is anything that is contrary to the Word of God.  It is my guide, my foundation, my inroad to the heart of God.   ~April
  • marblet

    Interesting post and one that makes a person think.  I don't agree with the comments that it makes no matter what the world is, becasue it does.  Not in the sense that we have to be able to identify all that the world includes, but to think that you and I can be sure we "love not the world" if we have no idea what it is, makes little sense.  In John and in the writings of Paul the world is mentioned often, and in most cases it is talking about an entity that is in total opposition to Christ or the segment of society that Jesus came to save.  When we get the concept that the world is totally opposite of Christianity and any involvment in it pulls us away from God, then we can understand better why people in the past have been so careful not to have their lives infiltrated by the world.  To me the world is all the attitudes and anti God philosophies and the actions that result from these attitudes and philosophies that undermine the kingdom of God.

    BP
  • btahq

    "To me the world is all the attitudes and anti God philosophies and the actions that result from these attitudes and philosophies that undermine the kingdom of God."

    I think this is a correct view of the world.

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