What Does The Bible Say About...

WORLDLINESS

Worldliness is conforming to the world. Worldliness is anything that is opposed to being transformed. Worldliness is “world likeness” in anything. Worldliness is anything that is not Christ like or that hinders “Christ likeness.” Worldliness is sin.

$fter careful study, we have come to the conclusion that worldliness is the greatest threat facing the church today. We are fully convinced that the majority of our problems, individually and collectively, are rooted in this one problem. The root of the problems of attendance, small contributions, and the lack of development of Christians, will be found in worldliness. Just a moment in reflection will show this is true. Who attends the services of the church faithfully ²the most spiritual, or the worldly members of the church? Who is most concerned with their development in the Christian life ²the spiritual, or the worldly member?

Definition Too Limited

We believe the definition of worldliness is too narrow. If this be true, then we are afraid that preachers and teachers have contributed toward worldliness by leaving the wrong impression on some. Too often we have confined the term to some few things, which are certainly worldly, but were far from covering everything that should be included in the term. 0any religious minded people think that because they do not dance, or wear immodest clothes, and a few other similar things, they are not worldly, yet in God’s sight they are. We do not mean to suggest by this that these things are not worldly and that they should not be condemned, but we should not leave the impression that worldliness is confined to just these.

Jesus said in John 1 :11,16, “these are in the world... they are not of the world.” How broad is the phrase, “not of the world?” 'oes it not include $// TH$T %(/21G6 T2 TH( W2R/'? When John says, “/ove not the world” (1 John :1 ), just how broad is that? Is it confined to some few things, or does it cover all that belongs to the world? Have you ever wanted any particular thing more than all else in the world and, been willing to go to any e[treme to attain it? Have you decided what you want your life to count for or have you ignored such a decision? Would not either of the above be worldly when measured by God’s standard?

Worldliness

What is worldliness? Well, first of all worldliness is sin. Worldliness is conforming to the world. Worldliness is anything that is opposed to being transformed. Worldliness is “world likeness” in anything. Worldliness is anything that is not Christ like or that hinders “Christ likeness.” Worldliness is a wedge that sin drives into the heart of the member of the church, disuniting his own will and God’s will for him, making his actions incompatible with his spiritual potentialities, because he allows selfish interests to usurp the place of God in his life.

Majoring In Temporal Instead Of

Spiritual Things

Worldliness, the opposite of spirituality, is an obsession with temporal, material things, to the e[clusion of spiritual growth and to the neglect of spiritual interests. Worldliness is a force that sidetracks the Christian from his greatest function ²fruitful service. When one persists in worldliness, he will inevitably decrease in spiritual perception. Worldliness is majoring on the temporal rather than the spiritual, for habits, attitudes, and inconsistencies that produce barriers, minimi]e influence, and make the permanence of our fellowship with God less vital.

Indifference To Moral Values

Worldliness is a cancer which creates an indifference to moral values, a “no difference” attitude about right or wrong, and ordering of lives without reference to Christian ideals. Worldliness is anything that leads away from God rather than closer to God. It makes a person insensitive to real abiding values, and, in most cases, unsteady in Christian life. Worldliness is one of the primary stages of vice (though it is not vise in every instance). Immorality is worldliness, but not all worldliness is in immorality. Worldliness splits an individual’s loyalties, making him selfish, spiritually indifferent, careless, nearsighted, and complacent. These are all unbecoming Tualities that nourish unchristian attitudes and belong to the world.

What is your primary concern? Is it to be a social leader, prominent, comfortable, wealthy, popular, living in ease, spending all of your free time in some sort of pleasure that may be right in itself, or is it to be the best Christian possible ²whether these other things come or not? These things may be worthy of attainment, but not to the neglect of spiritual growth. Their proper place, if they come, are by products in the life of one who’s major interest is to make Christ supreme in his life.

/et us keep in mind that worldliness is the opposite of spirituality and obsession with temporal and material things to the detriment of spiritual growth. 2ne does not have to be knee deep in sin to be worldly. The person who considers himself a “pretty good fellow,” but whose ideals are material and self centered is, according to the %ible, a worldly person.

Why Are So Many Religious Minded

People Worldly?

First is a failure to properly evaluate life. Too many people have not learned the real values of life. They are interested in finding happiness, but do not know where it is to be found. It has never dawned on them that happiness is determined by what one is. /ook at the beatitudes and note the emphasis on character. 6ubstitute the word “happy” for the word “blessed” and re read the beatitudes. 6omeone describes 3aul in prison as follows: “with life and all that men count dear behind, and with the horrors of a barbarous death before him, alone, unfriended and suckered, he is yet the happiest man in Rome. $mong the millions within her wide walls, not another heart is so optimistic with hope, so lifted with you.” This was true of 3aul because he had learned life’s value. He was happy because of what he was.

Second is that they have never tried to reach their potential in Christian living.

/ife will not remain a vacuum. It will be filled with something. If all Christians would make a determined effort to fill their lives with good, there would not be any place for the worldly. Too many are satisfied to just “get in” the church, and then just do as little as possible The natural result from such is to fill the void that is left with worldliness. God knew what He was doing when He said, “seek ye first the kingdom of God” (0att. 6: ) This is not just an arbitrary command. It has as its basis the building of a life that is spiritual. The way to get worldliness out, is to put something in its place Just as long as there are members of the church who refuse to fill their lives with service for God, there will be worldly members.

Third reason is indifference. This is perhaps one of the greatest hindrances to the solution of the problem. It is so much easier to travel the path of least resistance, to take the road mapped out by others, than it is to find out whether it is right or not. 6o many members of the church live day after day not caring that they have no influence for good and are not interested in learning why. They are afraid if they got interested it would upset their own lives and they just do not want this to happen. /et the preacher present any lesson and they refuse to give it even a passing thought.

Fourth, there are some who do not want to pay the price that is necessary to be spiritual. The story is told of a young woman, who having observed the charming life and broad influence of a fine Christian woman, went to her and said, “I would give the world if I could only have your influence.” The lady replied, “that is e[actly what it costs.” There is a price for everything, and spirituality is no e[ception. 8ntil more Christians are willing to pay the price of spirituality, the church will be filled with worldliness.

Fifth is that many are guided by custom rather than the Bible. There are many religious minded people who want the church of the %ible to be that shinning light on a hill, but, they do not want to hear that same %ible that teaches on worldliness. 'o they ever give chapter and verse for their worldly practices? 1o. Their theme song is: “everybody else is doing it,” “I can’t see any harm in it.” Then some say, “I can do it and it won’t hurt me.” 6uppose you could. Can a conscientious Christian be happy when he knows he is giving his time and lending his influence in that which degrades more than it uplifts?

/et us face the threat of worldliness and build lives that are spiritual.

Have You Obeyed The Gospel Of

Jesus Christ?

It is our sincere desire and prayer that you obey the gospel today and be saved. Remember the words of Jesus, “1ot every one that saith unto me, /ord, /ord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my )ather which is in heaven. 0any will say to me in that day, /ord, /ord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? $nd then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniTuity” (0atthew : 1 ).

If you are not a Christian you can be by obeying the this gospel. Jesus says, “He that believes and is bapti]ed shall be saved” (0ark 16:16). 3aul said “)or I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The words of Jesus teach us that to become a Christian one must: Hear the gospel (John 6: ) %elieve in Jesus as the Christ (John : ) Repent of all sins (/uke 1 : ) Confess Christ as /ord (0atthew 1 :

) $nd be bapti]ed to be saved (0ark 16:16) $fter baptism remain faithful to God. (0atthew 1 : )

If we do just what our /ord commanded we know that our salvation is certain and we will hear Him say well done, thou good and faithful servant (0atthew : 1). /et us go back to the %ible, back to Christ and His church and do e[actly what He commanded. 3lease let us help you in your obedience to the gospel before it is eternally too late.

[This material is presented by the members of the Northside church of Christ - 700 Jolly Road, NW Calhoun, Georgia 30701. If you would like to have a Bible Study or discuss this subject further please contact one of our elders; Kent Bailey at 706-6296111 - Ron Hall at 770-548-3167 - Eddie Jones at 706-264-2651]