I'm going to have to cut in to the middle of my heavily theological studies and random subjects to cut in an announcement! Don't worry, those of you who are still interested, I'm getting back to the subject I was working on earlier, after I announce....THIS!
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce, Reborn Humanity! A totally new and incredible site that several unknown college students, friends, and godly young people have put together over the past two weeks...for everyone to see! Go take a look!
What's it about? Well the best way to figure out is to click that link up there, but I can give you a quick introduction. In short, Reborn Humanity is a simple site of several of us for a few purposes: To edify, study with, and teach the Bible and truth to each other and others, and also to be a light to the rest of the World Wide Web, though a small one! You'll find there some Bible studies, pages and blogs hosted by certain peoples that probably most of you know of (looks to the CP! crowd), a prayer request and group section, a forum for the purpose entirely of discussing absolutely ANY biblical, apologetic, or godly topic! Feel like God would have you share something to others? Have some insight you'd like to give out? Or maybe just want to start a fun and edifying discussion and/or topic? Go check it out! I promise you, you'll probably like what you see!
Myself, India Aderhold, Hannah McNally, Caleb Blair, and Chris Schultz are the main body of those contributing to it now, some of them you know. But also, for the record...we could use and would be totally glad to have any more site contributors who would want to help! Do you want to be involved too, and have your own page? Participate? Let me know, or us know there on the site, and I can bet ya, we will be glad to have you!
Take a look, please! Ok, now I'll get back to the discussion I was working on before this...look for the next post!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Worldliness Exposed - Part 3
Now, the next issue of Those Great and Infamous Three (the three things that make up the entire 'world' concept), is the lust of the flesh. So now we have a decent enough idea of what Lust of the Eyes is. Or at least, you have my humble stand on the issue based on Scripture. :)
This issue, the lust of the flesh, is probably the easiest to know of and most understandable issue...after all, we've all been there. The fact is, we live in sinful, corrupted bodies, made up of physical flesh. Now sadly, in this state that we've been in since Adam and Eve's eating of the tree, we have been exposed to and condemned (in more ways than one) to actual death. This means I believe that not only to we literally die when our bodies stop functioning, but our flesh is literally corrupted also and will be until it dies, and/or until Resurrection Day when we're all risen to God's Kingdom with renewed bodies.
"Right, so, what about now? Our current state?" You say. Well sadly, there's really not a lot we can do about it. Unless you feel all right with killing yourself, your going to live in your corrupted flesh until you die...which isn't nearly as serious a problem for us as saved believers as it would be for unsaved persons, but is still an issue.
On to the brutal statement: The lust of the flesh is pretty simple, we've all been there before. It involves the appetites of your own body that are ungodly, such as over-desires for food, for pleasure, for avoiding physical pain and damage for its own sake, etc. Note: I said OVER-DESIRES. For crying out loud, we all know that feeling hungry is no sin. However, we DO know that gluttony is. Also, for example: Sexual desire in itself is not a bad thing. God Himself created it in us, and for a reason. Its when you desire something you are commanded not to have or Satan twists these desires in you into lust that it becomes sin. And that's just logical sense. ;) Same with pain and pleasure, physically: nothing wrong with them in themselves, but its when they begin governing your body, actions, thoughts, and probably life that its an issue. You know what I mean...more logical sense.
However, even given that your body's desires in themselves aren't the lust of the flesh: Its the wrongful desires of corrupted flesh. The Bible is quite clear that we are to avoid these things, period. No wiggle-room allowed.
I actually talked with Rog briefly about this passage,
"I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:19-23
Paul is saying here that our bodies USED to be enslaved to these natural desires to sin. And naturally so. We were unsaved creatures. But now that shouldn't be a problem, and if your body's appetites begin hindering your walk with God, or becoming dominant in your daily life...Paul says, quite literally, we're to break those chains of bondage! We are God's servants, not servants of our own desires.
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1st Cor. 15:50-54
The main point here is that 1) Our corrupted flesh and blood of this world will not enter the Kindgom of God. Its impossible, since it is part of the great depravity we suffer even since Adam. However, the great news is 2) When it dies, we will be resurrected in an imperishable, un-corrupted, pure body. How's that for amazing? :D
In my next little post I'll probably go on to give my thoughts and study discoveries on probably the biggest, most complicated, most threatening issue of the three, one that's been around even before our Earth began: The pride of living. The pride of life. Thoughts, anyone? On either issue?
This issue, the lust of the flesh, is probably the easiest to know of and most understandable issue...after all, we've all been there. The fact is, we live in sinful, corrupted bodies, made up of physical flesh. Now sadly, in this state that we've been in since Adam and Eve's eating of the tree, we have been exposed to and condemned (in more ways than one) to actual death. This means I believe that not only to we literally die when our bodies stop functioning, but our flesh is literally corrupted also and will be until it dies, and/or until Resurrection Day when we're all risen to God's Kingdom with renewed bodies.
"Right, so, what about now? Our current state?" You say. Well sadly, there's really not a lot we can do about it. Unless you feel all right with killing yourself, your going to live in your corrupted flesh until you die...which isn't nearly as serious a problem for us as saved believers as it would be for unsaved persons, but is still an issue.
On to the brutal statement: The lust of the flesh is pretty simple, we've all been there before. It involves the appetites of your own body that are ungodly, such as over-desires for food, for pleasure, for avoiding physical pain and damage for its own sake, etc. Note: I said OVER-DESIRES. For crying out loud, we all know that feeling hungry is no sin. However, we DO know that gluttony is. Also, for example: Sexual desire in itself is not a bad thing. God Himself created it in us, and for a reason. Its when you desire something you are commanded not to have or Satan twists these desires in you into lust that it becomes sin. And that's just logical sense. ;) Same with pain and pleasure, physically: nothing wrong with them in themselves, but its when they begin governing your body, actions, thoughts, and probably life that its an issue. You know what I mean...more logical sense.
However, even given that your body's desires in themselves aren't the lust of the flesh: Its the wrongful desires of corrupted flesh. The Bible is quite clear that we are to avoid these things, period. No wiggle-room allowed.
I actually talked with Rog briefly about this passage,
"I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:19-23
Paul is saying here that our bodies USED to be enslaved to these natural desires to sin. And naturally so. We were unsaved creatures. But now that shouldn't be a problem, and if your body's appetites begin hindering your walk with God, or becoming dominant in your daily life...Paul says, quite literally, we're to break those chains of bondage! We are God's servants, not servants of our own desires.
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1st Cor. 15:50-54
The main point here is that 1) Our corrupted flesh and blood of this world will not enter the Kindgom of God. Its impossible, since it is part of the great depravity we suffer even since Adam. However, the great news is 2) When it dies, we will be resurrected in an imperishable, un-corrupted, pure body. How's that for amazing? :D
In my next little post I'll probably go on to give my thoughts and study discoveries on probably the biggest, most complicated, most threatening issue of the three, one that's been around even before our Earth began: The pride of living. The pride of life. Thoughts, anyone? On either issue?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"Worldliness" Exposed - Part 2
Well, for those of you who are still interested in listening to what I've got to say, it's this: I want to tackle all three of these issues separately. I think its a good idea to get them clear.
Lemme see...first off, I wanted to mention "Lust of the Eyes." Ok, so we know based on Scripture that the 'world' we must avoid and not love, is made up of three basic things: Of which this is one. But of course, what are they?
In one word, I'm going to say I believe the lust of the eyes, is materialism. The desire for physical wealth, things you see with your eyes, such as money, land, items, etc. In America especially today, a people like us that is so blessed with such wealth, this is a very hard subject to deal with. You know, the desiring of a really nice car, a better house for yourself, some item that belongs to someone else (coveting)...that in short, is desiring material things with your eyes that either God doesn't want you to have, or you value more than you should. I know this sounds pretty harsh (and don't worry, believe me, this is something I have serious issues with too...), especially to us as Americans in the world we live in. Much is placed in our culture and society on material possessions.
Note: This is not saying that wanting anything at all is lusting with eyes. A man wanting to get a new house for his family to live in, a car so he can get to work and provide for his family, or even just someone looking to upgrade their computer with a better one is hardly sinning. However, its when your possessions actually become a standard measure of your life (i.e., what you hold to be your most valued and important things of your life, or even more important than they should be) We know that God should be our life, and more important, the SOURCE of our life. No material possessions should we count as anything that brings about life, or determines the quality of our lives. Its not wrong to want things, until your life starts being measured by what you possess and use and want, instead of God and His Spirit in you. I hope that makes sense....
....Any thoughts on that one? Next I think we could discuss the lust of a flesh. Please, tell me what you think!
Lemme see...first off, I wanted to mention "Lust of the Eyes." Ok, so we know based on Scripture that the 'world' we must avoid and not love, is made up of three basic things: Of which this is one. But of course, what are they?
In one word, I'm going to say I believe the lust of the eyes, is materialism. The desire for physical wealth, things you see with your eyes, such as money, land, items, etc. In America especially today, a people like us that is so blessed with such wealth, this is a very hard subject to deal with. You know, the desiring of a really nice car, a better house for yourself, some item that belongs to someone else (coveting)...that in short, is desiring material things with your eyes that either God doesn't want you to have, or you value more than you should. I know this sounds pretty harsh (and don't worry, believe me, this is something I have serious issues with too...), especially to us as Americans in the world we live in. Much is placed in our culture and society on material possessions.
Note: This is not saying that wanting anything at all is lusting with eyes. A man wanting to get a new house for his family to live in, a car so he can get to work and provide for his family, or even just someone looking to upgrade their computer with a better one is hardly sinning. However, its when your possessions actually become a standard measure of your life (i.e., what you hold to be your most valued and important things of your life, or even more important than they should be) We know that God should be our life, and more important, the SOURCE of our life. No material possessions should we count as anything that brings about life, or determines the quality of our lives. Its not wrong to want things, until your life starts being measured by what you possess and use and want, instead of God and His Spirit in you. I hope that makes sense....
....Any thoughts on that one? Next I think we could discuss the lust of a flesh. Please, tell me what you think!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
"Worldiness" Myths Exposed
First off (before I jump in to this subject), for the record I know I haven't been posting too much on here...perhaps that will change over time. For the moment life has been rather busy, let alone on the nothing-much-to-post-about side. However if things go as planned, I may have much news to report by next weekend, God willing. In the meantime, its just a matter of holding out till May, my last final run for the finish line. But anyway...
Now I'm sure you've heard the term before, even been called it yourself once or twice by various well-meaning, but highly conservative Bible teachers and pastors. For the most part, it runs a lot like this, an idea pushed by highly traditional, conservative churches that look on the change in America grimly (and hardly without reason, for the most part). It rose up from the writings mainly of 1st John and Jesus' words in the Gospels. The argument is this, in a few words:
"Don't do what the world does, its sin!"
And quite bluntly, they are correct...at least, somewhat. The idea behind it though it what bothers me. Sure, I get it, I'm not interested in being part of the world any more than most of you are! Or thinking how it thinks or talking like it talks or doing most of what it does, BUT what bothers me is how many teachers take it.
"...Which implies: Don't listen to 'worldly' music, watch 'worldly' movies, go 'worldly' places, wear 'worldly' clothes, or enjoy 'the things of this world!'" You know, rock music, Television, bowling alleys, perhaps wearing unusual attire, etc.
However, the question I'd like to ask is this: What about driving cars? Wearing shoes? Living in a nice house? The world does those things to!
Well, not that so much, as this: Then where is the line? What IS the world and what isn't?
This is something I've slowly been coming to realize, and study into at length over the past weeks, and I'd like to share it extensively with you. I know what half of you are saying already, I'm sure, one of two things:
1) "Alex, be careful, after all, its written right there in the Bible, legitimately enough! There are commands against worldliness there!"
or 2) "Yeah Alex, you're on the right track: But its a matter of a mindset, or a way of thinking, not actions! Being worldly just means being different, that's all!"
Well, sort of...and somewhat. Read on, I think you'll be surprised how it turns out.
Well like I said, and like most of you are saying, sure...it IS written in the Bible. In fact, the subject comes up nearly 50 times, in nearly 203 places. In the KJV, the word "world" comes up 203 times. After some research, I've found to my surprise and some disappointment, that 34 of those times its translated incorrectly, usually from the word, "age" instead of "world." (Sorry for you KJV only folks, but you're Bible is hardly more perfect than any other translation. Another topic for another day.) I'm going to lay out some of the most important passages for the "worldliness" argument in the Bible right here, and we'll look into the subject carefully. (Note: You'll note, some of you who REALLY stay up on your Scripture, that I won't include Romans 12:2. I found that is a slight mistranslation. Ask for more info below, if you want to know.)
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." -John 15:18(Jesus speaking)
"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." -1st Cor. 2:12
"You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" -1st Cor. 3:3
(interesting side note: apparently here foolish quarrels, and jealously are marked by Paul as worldly. Yep, correct. That is a command. But on to the even bigger picture.)
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." -Gal. 6:14
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." -Eph. 2:1-2
"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?" -Col. 2:20-21
"It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age," -Titus 2:12
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." -James 4:4
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." -1st John 2:15
(Much as I dislike pulling Bible passages for topics like this, I'm going to for this topic.)
By reading over these key verses, and many, MANY other such passages in Scripture, its pretty easy to conclude that in short, the 'world' the Bible writers talk of in the New Testament is evil. Not only that, it is given over to sin, corruption, and eventual destruction, AND is ruled over by Satan himself who commands it as supreme master. This "world" that is so often spoken of is something we are commanded by Scripture to keep different from, be 'not of the world.' Obviously, for good reason. We are also commanded to avoid its passions, and not to love it nor the things of it. Interestingly, it also abides by some rules bordering on legalism in Colossians. "Do not see, handle, touch!" In this context he is speaking of the restrictions the somewhat-worldly (in part, not all) laid on fallen Israel(the majority Israel that is not saved). Again, another topic for another day.
"Alright, sure Alex, we know that!" You say, "We know we're not to be of this world, or its children, or to love it or the things of it. What of it?" Well, my question above is still there...in that case, what IS the world? Is it really all this 'worldly' music, items, material things, or just a mindset? Or both? Or neither? And how can we tell what is worldly and what isn't? Define "world" for us!
Many a pastor/teacher (perhaps with perfectly well-meaning, but misguided idea) will hesitate. Some say any music with a backbeat is 'worldly.' Some think television itself is, others will say going to the movies is not Christian...various things. But still, there's no definite answer from any corner, no one is willing to say, "Ok, THIS is what it is, period." It's mostly...(And I'm sorry to offend if I do in saying this)just seeming to be personal opinions, pushes for agendas other than the Bible's. Traditionalist and extreme conservative thinking. Which is ok, certainly! Nothing wrong in the least with them (in themselves)! That is, until they try to interpret the Bible incorrectly. Then I have a problem.
"Yeah yeah yeah, Alex," you say, "So what then? Let's just suppose what you're saying IS true...what of it?" Well, simply this: Thankfully for us, there is a definition of the world, in its entirety, right in the Bible itself! As good as any dictionary!
"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but from the world." -1st John 2:15-16
Hmm...this passage claims that the world, and everything in it, is made up of those three objects: The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Period. Is THIS the world that we are so avidly commanded to avoid and remain apart from all through Scripture? It seems a very blunt, precise, and complete definition.
Therefore ladies and gents, based on all above, consider this: The world, which is ruled by Satan, corrupted entirely by sin, and this elusive thing we MUST avoid as Christians, is THIS:
1) The lust of the eyes.
2) The lust of the flesh.
3) The pride of life.
Well, what are they, you ask? And exactly how do we avoid them, and what does that mean to us? How do we apply this to our lives, in seeking to obey Scripture? Well, while you tell me what you think (chew me up if you want, don't worry. Feedback on issues like this is priceless), I'm going to write about them...all three issues, that make up the sinful world we must avoid. Look for the next post!
Now I'm sure you've heard the term before, even been called it yourself once or twice by various well-meaning, but highly conservative Bible teachers and pastors. For the most part, it runs a lot like this, an idea pushed by highly traditional, conservative churches that look on the change in America grimly (and hardly without reason, for the most part). It rose up from the writings mainly of 1st John and Jesus' words in the Gospels. The argument is this, in a few words:
"Don't do what the world does, its sin!"
And quite bluntly, they are correct...at least, somewhat. The idea behind it though it what bothers me. Sure, I get it, I'm not interested in being part of the world any more than most of you are! Or thinking how it thinks or talking like it talks or doing most of what it does, BUT what bothers me is how many teachers take it.
"...Which implies: Don't listen to 'worldly' music, watch 'worldly' movies, go 'worldly' places, wear 'worldly' clothes, or enjoy 'the things of this world!'" You know, rock music, Television, bowling alleys, perhaps wearing unusual attire, etc.
However, the question I'd like to ask is this: What about driving cars? Wearing shoes? Living in a nice house? The world does those things to!
Well, not that so much, as this: Then where is the line? What IS the world and what isn't?
This is something I've slowly been coming to realize, and study into at length over the past weeks, and I'd like to share it extensively with you. I know what half of you are saying already, I'm sure, one of two things:
1) "Alex, be careful, after all, its written right there in the Bible, legitimately enough! There are commands against worldliness there!"
or 2) "Yeah Alex, you're on the right track: But its a matter of a mindset, or a way of thinking, not actions! Being worldly just means being different, that's all!"
Well, sort of...and somewhat. Read on, I think you'll be surprised how it turns out.
Well like I said, and like most of you are saying, sure...it IS written in the Bible. In fact, the subject comes up nearly 50 times, in nearly 203 places. In the KJV, the word "world" comes up 203 times. After some research, I've found to my surprise and some disappointment, that 34 of those times its translated incorrectly, usually from the word, "age" instead of "world." (Sorry for you KJV only folks, but you're Bible is hardly more perfect than any other translation. Another topic for another day.) I'm going to lay out some of the most important passages for the "worldliness" argument in the Bible right here, and we'll look into the subject carefully. (Note: You'll note, some of you who REALLY stay up on your Scripture, that I won't include Romans 12:2. I found that is a slight mistranslation. Ask for more info below, if you want to know.)
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." -John 15:18(Jesus speaking)
"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." -1st Cor. 2:12
"You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" -1st Cor. 3:3
(interesting side note: apparently here foolish quarrels, and jealously are marked by Paul as worldly. Yep, correct. That is a command. But on to the even bigger picture.)
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." -Gal. 6:14
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." -Eph. 2:1-2
"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?" -Col. 2:20-21
"It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age," -Titus 2:12
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." -James 4:4
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." -1st John 2:15
(Much as I dislike pulling Bible passages for topics like this, I'm going to for this topic.)
By reading over these key verses, and many, MANY other such passages in Scripture, its pretty easy to conclude that in short, the 'world' the Bible writers talk of in the New Testament is evil. Not only that, it is given over to sin, corruption, and eventual destruction, AND is ruled over by Satan himself who commands it as supreme master. This "world" that is so often spoken of is something we are commanded by Scripture to keep different from, be 'not of the world.' Obviously, for good reason. We are also commanded to avoid its passions, and not to love it nor the things of it. Interestingly, it also abides by some rules bordering on legalism in Colossians. "Do not see, handle, touch!" In this context he is speaking of the restrictions the somewhat-worldly (in part, not all) laid on fallen Israel(the majority Israel that is not saved). Again, another topic for another day.
"Alright, sure Alex, we know that!" You say, "We know we're not to be of this world, or its children, or to love it or the things of it. What of it?" Well, my question above is still there...in that case, what IS the world? Is it really all this 'worldly' music, items, material things, or just a mindset? Or both? Or neither? And how can we tell what is worldly and what isn't? Define "world" for us!
Many a pastor/teacher (perhaps with perfectly well-meaning, but misguided idea) will hesitate. Some say any music with a backbeat is 'worldly.' Some think television itself is, others will say going to the movies is not Christian...various things. But still, there's no definite answer from any corner, no one is willing to say, "Ok, THIS is what it is, period." It's mostly...(And I'm sorry to offend if I do in saying this)just seeming to be personal opinions, pushes for agendas other than the Bible's. Traditionalist and extreme conservative thinking. Which is ok, certainly! Nothing wrong in the least with them (in themselves)! That is, until they try to interpret the Bible incorrectly. Then I have a problem.
"Yeah yeah yeah, Alex," you say, "So what then? Let's just suppose what you're saying IS true...what of it?" Well, simply this: Thankfully for us, there is a definition of the world, in its entirety, right in the Bible itself! As good as any dictionary!
"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but from the world." -1st John 2:15-16
Hmm...this passage claims that the world, and everything in it, is made up of those three objects: The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Period. Is THIS the world that we are so avidly commanded to avoid and remain apart from all through Scripture? It seems a very blunt, precise, and complete definition.
Therefore ladies and gents, based on all above, consider this: The world, which is ruled by Satan, corrupted entirely by sin, and this elusive thing we MUST avoid as Christians, is THIS:
1) The lust of the eyes.
2) The lust of the flesh.
3) The pride of life.
Well, what are they, you ask? And exactly how do we avoid them, and what does that mean to us? How do we apply this to our lives, in seeking to obey Scripture? Well, while you tell me what you think (chew me up if you want, don't worry. Feedback on issues like this is priceless), I'm going to write about them...all three issues, that make up the sinful world we must avoid. Look for the next post!
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