Posted by: Michael Stevenson on Tue, Aug 17, 2010

So, just what is worldliness? Is it driving around in a bright new car? Is it wearing makeup and expensive jewelry or the latest clothing fashions? Is it drinking alcohol to extremes, dancing or going to parties? Should a Christian who is true avoid any—or all of these things? Should true Christians fit in with the crowd so that he can “stand approved” by man? Just what does God say about it?

 What about having material wealth of any kind? Is this acceptable to God? After all, doesn’t the Bible actually tell us “Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith”—James 2:5? Can a true Christian have wealth, drive the best cars and own the best and most luxurious homes and not be caught up in the affairs of this world?

 Everyone has their own opinions on this subject, but, what is God’s view on this matter? So what does the Bible really say? We need to examine what your Bible says and see just what it is that God truly does expect in regards to worldliness!

Christians Are Expected to Prosper!

God has greatly intended that we have a life of abundance. Christ told His disciples that “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”—John 10:10. With this, it is clear that abundance is something that God desires for all them that are His people—yet, the question is, just how much is too much? John wrote that “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health”—3John 2. Solomon was lead and inspired to write that “the substance [material wealth] of a diligent man is precious”—Proverbs 12 and he further instructed us that “whatsoever the hand finds to do, do it with all your might”—Ecclesiastes 9:10.

 So then, if a Christian is faithful in working, using his or her God-given talents and abilities, then it is God’s joy and delight that they will be blessed and that they will prosper. A true Christian can have a full and a prosperous life—but, he must be faithful and do it in a manner that pleases God.

 The problem comes when people put their hearts upon material wealth when everything that he does and thinks about revolves in how to get it. Rather than focusing on God in the process and what God wants—he rather would be caught up in the ways of this world—the way to “get”—and then he lives contrary to the ways that God has intended for life and living—the way of “give”. He rather has no desire to accept, obey and to pursue God’s true ways!

 God does indeed call into His Church those that are “poor of the world” because they are rather concerned about what is truth rather than how to get material wealth all the time over God’s ways. Having less abundance to cloud their way of thinking, they are more willing to accept those things which are true and they will not have as many material possessions that they might have to lose or give up so that they can obey God. We see this because the time is coming when God’s people will need to go to a place of safety and give up what they own.

 God wants for His people to consider material wealth properly and to use them wisely—for the good of others as well as themselves—not to have things which are only clouding our intent of serving God.

What About Physical Pleasures of Life?

Let’s then examine the physical pleasures of life and see whether or not they are sinful. Many people use the following to condemn all pleasures of flesh: “Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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”—1 John 2:15-16.

 We find that there are five sense which God created in man—sight, smell, taste, feeling, and hearing—each one of them having a purpose—each one so that we can experience, enjoy and take pleasure in physical things which exist. But, most people who rather try to use the verses we mentioned, do so and try to deny people the ability to use those five senses. No particular physical thing represents worldliness—but lusting after them is wrong. Lust is when we have sinful desires against them—to abuse them. It can make us desire or use something in a manner that is contrary to God’s laws or the purpose for which it was created. Lust represents the wrong attitude of mind and heart.

 For example, here are some things which are often used in the wrong ways—they are often lusted after: sex, alcohol, dancing, card playing, watching television and movies. We find a lot of people lust after them and use them in the wrong ways. These are not wrong when they are used within the ways that God has given in His laws, but, what is wrong is when we go after them in manners which are not in harmony with God’s Law!

 For example, God created sex and called it good (Gen. 1:27, 31). He commanded men and women to use it in a right and proper way (v.28). Yet, fornication, adultery, and other wrong uses of sex violate God’s law and are forbidden (Ex. 20:14; Gal. 5:19; 1 Cor. 6:18). We need to be cautious of how we use those things which God has ordained for man to use.

 What about alcohol? Some say that it is forbidden to use alcohol at all while others seek great pleasure in excessive use. What we find in the Bible is that first, Christ turned water into wine during the wedding (John 2:1-22 and thus, He was showing to us the proper use of alcohol—He allows us to use it properly. As the “Lord” of the Old Testament (1 Cor. 10:1-4), He inspired Solomon to write that “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry”—Ecclesiastes 10:19. But, when we use alcohol to the extreme, when we over use it and we get drunk, then it is condemned by God. “Neither thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God”—1 Cor. 6:10.

 God’s own people often danced in times of celebration. We find that they danced when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, for the women all came from the cities of Saul and they had all sorts of musical instruments and they danced (1 Samuel 18:5.

 Likewise, when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Israel, David danced before the Lord with all of his might. (2 Samuel 6:14). Remember that David was a man after God’s own heart. Solomon wrote that “there is a time for dancing”—Ecclesiastes 3:4.

 God’s people are to praise God “in the dance” (Ps. 149:3). Thus, dancing is not wrong—but, what is wrong is when it is done in sexually suggestive or lewd conduct. When it is done for those purposes, then it because a sin and sin is the breaking of the law of God (1 John 3:4). Therefore, we avoid the way that it would be wrong in.

 The same applies to card playing, television, movies and other things. Ask yourself about the shows and movies you watch. Are they involving sex, lewd conduct, theft, and anything that violates God’s ways? Are they involving things which show someone committing murder? Are they showing things which break God’s laws and commandments? Are they full of countless acts of adultery, fornication, drunkenness, rebellion, violence, filthy language? These kinds of shows and movies are in direct violation to God’s laws and depict ungodly behavior—behavior which is heavily condemned by God.

 We need to understand that most card playing is permissible, but not if it involves gambling, drinking games or anything which would violate God’s laws. Gambling is something which promotes greed and lust.

 Do you find yourself desiring to watch and fill your time with endless television rather than God’s Word? Do you find that you rather enjoy doing things which would send an improper message about the type of person that you are? If so, then more than likely, you are caught up in the things of this world and you are desiring to take part in those things on a regular basis—something that God hates.

 Life cannot be lived in a manner which is done through television and films, which glorify killing, theft, gambling, sex, drinking to get drunk and other ways of which are evil. It will affect your character, cloud your judgment, and you will not be able to produce a godly way of life.

Our Physical Appearance Says A Lot

What about the way that we dress? Does this matter also?

 They way of a true Christian is to be moderate in what we do. Paul told the Church at Phillipi to “Let your moderation be known unto all men”—Phil. 4:5. Very few today even practice or acknowledge moderation in dress and hair. They do not consider moderation in makeup, jewelry, fashion, tattoos, and other ways of their body. Everyone wants to outdo another and thus, people follow the crowd because they believe that the majority just cannot be wrong. They live in a way that they think they will be accepted for. Remember that Satan has given a way (Eph. 2:2) by which he gets people to follow him.

 Christians must be modest and conservative in the dress and chaste in their appearances—having the appearances of an ambassador. Their appearance should never be one which would be shocking or suggestive (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Remember that God has created mankind in His image and in His likeness—thus, He expects us to dress in the way that He would (Gen. 1:26). God is literally trying to reproduce Himself in man. The body of a converted person is to be a temple of God, a dwelling place for His Holy Spirit. God does not take it lightly when anyone—Christian or not—defiles their bodies with piercings or tattoos. “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks (New King James Version: “tattoos”) upon you: I am the Lord.”—Leviticus 19:28.

 Thus, it is not appropriate to use jewelry, makeup and tattoos to try to “improve” our appearances when what God creates is far more beautiful than what any human can actually do!

True Christians Are Not of this World!

Are Christians to try to fit in with the world? What about the joining of clubs, lodges, or being involved in social activities—are these wrong?

 Anyone who seeks to serve God cannot spend time at worldly gatherings or joining the world’s clubs or lodges. A true Christian will avoid joining in with people of the world—but, rather, will seek to fellowship with like-minded people, those who believe as they believe. He cannot seek to dress and act likes others. Christians are separated on every front from those of the world. Peter had exhorted that we are “…no longer…live the rest of [your] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot speaking evil of you”—1 Peter 4:2-4. The world enjoys doing things in excess—and they will they will think that you are strange when you refuse to join with them. Thus, Christians need to remember that we are above the world—that we are not to participate in the ways of this world.

 A Christian cannot love the world—its societies and its clubs, its systems of men. Rather, this world is not of God—but rather is of Satan and God calls this world evil (Gal. 1:4). This present world is based upon the way of Satan which is “get” and is not based upon God. When we enjoy the things of this world, we become an enemy of God (James 4:4) and therefore, we are not of God. Christians are rather called forth from the world—to literally become separate—no more taking part of this world (2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4).

Worldliness Is Sin!

So then, what is worldliness? Before we define it, let’s consider its fruits—let’s take a look at what it produces.

 Take a hard look at the world around you and search the newspapers, books and magazines, visit the store and bookstores. Scan through television channels and search the internet. Even in public schools and universities and colleges, we find that in all of these there is a “get” attitude and nothing that produce anything of God.

 Society is dying in its mobile world of pagers, cell phones, laptop computers, emails—all which are possessed by people who “have” to be instantly and continuously link to others because they are afraid of staying “out of the loop.”

 Many will hide behind their “character” to rebel against mainstream society. Today, both the middle and upper class teens will often dress as if they are urban street thugs and members of some gang, even dressing as if they are in poverty, as if they use violence and hopeless. The sad fact is, in the future many of them do become that way.

 Some who are “depressed” about their growing up in a two-parent, middle class family will dress up in “Goth” styles and wear black and white makeup and put on black lipstick to try to take over their lives—thinking that they can escape. Others will fill lives with raves and after-hour parties, pouring down their throats almost all types of prescription medications to get a high. They live to get high, refusing to face reality of life.

 When you go to virtually any independent music store, you see another culture of worldliness—one which is also gripping youth with pride and vanity, yet clean in their own eyes (Proverbs 30:12). With hairstyles that resemble everything from spikes to lions’. They look like their hair is unkept and something not from the 21^st century. They idolize whatever is the latest band and they call it music. Such songs are rock, rap, jazz—to a younger person it does not matter, as long as the peers love it. All this is to show you just how worldly society has become with their music, television, clothing, and all the many other areas of “life” which is brainwashing our children into accept what Satan loves.

 As a result, we find that children believe that is acceptable to act this way, to dress whatever way they choose, to wear baggy jeans, and to act as if everything revolves around them. But, the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) loves this type of selfish behavior—a behavior as if to say “I will do it my way and no one can tell me what to do.”

 Then of course we also get others who go to the other extreme—avoiding using common, everyday words and use rather more scholarly words all the time that appeal to intellectual vanity, yet offering very little in substance. Such people love to be with their own minds, using their languages of education and the love to look like they deserve respect from their like-minded peers.

 King Solomon, the wisest man who has ever lived said that “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity…I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow”—Ecc. 1:1, 16-18. Yet, we also do admit that gaining knowledge is not wrong either—but how we use that knowledge is and can be wrong if we use it to try to make ourselves look better than another.

 Throughout our modern societies, we find more and more people turning either to one extreme or another and embracing this view and that view—politically, educational, sexual, and all other manner of ways which are all of evil influences.

 We get many who also love to read all the intellectual works that the world deems as hot and awesome. They love reading the writings of authors who they view as wise—yet, they reject the Author of the true source of knowledge—the one who gave us knowledge—they reject the one Author who has given us His inspired instruction manual for our living and understanding—the Holy Bible. While they go about reading their novels and fantasies, they reject God!

 Other readers go to the opposite, filling their understanding with obscenities and lewd books, comics, and graphics which would have been called “X-rated” twenty or thirty years ago.

 All of what is going on today in society is the cause for the downfall of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:26-30) and we need to realize that time is soon when our nations and this present world is going to come crashing down because of God’s judgments!

 So again, just what is worldliness? It would then be anything that violates God’s perfect and holy law of love (Romans 13:10, anything that is contrary to His way of life—found within His Word—of the way of this world. This includes our actions, thoughts, dress, speech and many other areas of personal conduct. God’s laws are spiritual (Romans 7:14) and those laws cover all areas of living.

 When Jesus was on earth in the flesh and blood, He was tempted by the things of this world—the very things that Satan loves to use to tempt—money, wealth, control, power, and flirting with death. But, Jesus overcame those things (John 16:33) and He wants His people to follow His example (1 Peter 2:21) and to turn from those things.

 John was inspired by God to write that “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one”—1 John 5:19. In fact, the whole world is very deceived by Satan (Rev. 12:9) and we need to make sure that we stay away from the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) so that Satan has no power to broadcast to us his ways, lusts, greeds, envy, pride and vanity!

 Paul further said that Christians, though we are physically in this world, must come spiritually out of this world (1 Cor. 5:9-11).

 From the materials we read to the kinds of cars we drive can send a signal about who we are and who we represent.

Avoiding Worldliness

Let’s remember that we are called to be different than is the world. Christ told us that “If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”—John 15:19.

 Christians are not—nor cannot be—of this world, even though we must live within it, we must avoid it and its temptations. God has commanded that His people not only “come out of her” (Rev. 18:4), but that we also not look back as did Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32). This woman merely looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah and was turned into a pillar of salt. To this day, there is a pillar of salt not too far away from the areas of Sodom and Gomorrah that many say is Lot’s wife. She longed for a way of life that she had just come out of and so she looked back.

 If you are truly avoiding the worldliness then you are dedicating yourself to God and His ultimate way of life for you—something that all of us as Christians are to do. For we need to remember that “by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”—Matt. 4:4, we will be blessed. We are to live by God’s Words and not mans. We need to be willing to allow God’s Word direct our every path, allowing God’s ways to establish in us His character, His practices and His ultimate blessings.

 If we will do this, avoiding the ways of this world, we then are going to live happy, balanced, and abundant lives which are rich and fair in the ways of God.

  Discussion: The Plain Truth About Worldliness

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