The Dangers of the World
How do we deal with the influence of the world in the Church?
Our Lord Jesus Christ...gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
Galatians 1:3-4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2nd Corinthians 4:4
Everything in the world...is not from the Father.
1st John 2:16
If someone told you spiritual forces were steadily weakening the true Church all around the world, what would your reaction be? Would you say that’s surely an exaggeration? How well does such a claim measure up to your understanding of Bible teaching? Some are convinced that the impact of the world is one of the main reasons why God's people struggle to think biblically and are unable to follow Christ fully.
The powerful and spiritually destructive influence of the world is literally all around us. If we are undisciplined in our life of faith, it has the very real potential to undermine our allegiance to Christ. We can be sure that when we touch the world we are interacting with an evil authority that is insidiously opposed to the lordship of Christ. Many genuine Christians are unaware that the way they sometimes think and behave conforms significantly to the customs of the world. But how does this come about?
By His Spirit, God wants us to be transformed into Christ’s likeness according to the “pattern of sound teaching” laid out for us in God’s Word (2nd Timothy 1:13). The Bible’s God-breathed, all-sufficient teaching is uniquely rooted in His absolute authority. In contrast, “the whole world” around us, in every context imaginable, “lies in the evil one”—is “under the power of the evil one” (see 1st John 5:19, Amplified Bible).
If we are honest with ourselves, many characteristics of the world are very attractive to our flesh, our fallen godless nature. They impress and stimulate us, and are pleasing to the soul. The world’s ethos can subtly alter a believer’s renewed mind, creating a contention that in time will stir up fleshly attitudes and unholy allegiances. We are spiritually compromised when our fallen human nature is thoroughly invoked.
Where we are undisciplined in our private lives, the ways of the world can stir up our dark side, leading us into sinful behaviour. We are warned: “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
We all realise that day after day the ways of the world are channelled into the Christian’s home. What are the predominant characteristics of Satan’s world that we invite into our lives so freely? Consider 1st John 2:15-17:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
Here’s something to discuss with your friends and to think about prayerfully: because the whole world lies in the grip of evil authorities, what should we expect the scheming forces of wickedness to accomplish through the entertainment industry and media outlets in general? It would be a mistake to see these as being neutral in any way. They are empowered by an evil source that is tirelessly opposed to God’s Truth.
Those who have been born again spiritually (see John 3:5-8) have been saved from “the course [or fashion] of this world” that is controlled by the evil spirit. (Read carefully Ephesians 2:1-3 and 6:10-17.) With these truths in mind, shouldn’t we be very wary of the Internet, social media, television, movies, radio, literature, music, newspapers and magazines? All these are relentless sources of materialistic world-views and non-Christian attitudes.
If someone is spiritually strong because of his fully surrendered walk with Christ, why would he be continually attracted to the world’s mouthpieces? Some worldly contexts are useful to us, in our vocations for example, but can we generally indulge the world while faithfully serving Christ? Some say we can. But is there a price to pay?
It’s crucial that we renew our thinking each day to protect us from damaging influences that could lead us away from the empowering “mind of Christ” (see 1st Corinthians 2:16). God has promised to infuse His truths into our hearts and minds (consider Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).
Those whose minds are continuously transformed by God’s living Word will find the ways of the world unattractive and even objectionable. They will understand that the believer’s very life and sufficiency are grounded in Christ alone. In God they live and move and exist (Acts 17:28). Their thinking and lifestyle are shaped by the teaching of Christ, the everlasting Word of God that is living and active and full of power (Hebrews 4:12).
God’s chosen will learn not to be lured by wealth and possessions, all the stuff they will have to leave behind. As they grow spiritually and are progressively sanctified, they will choose instead to lay up treasure in heaven. When God’s people are enlightened by His Spirit, they will experience among the people of God a radical transformation that conforms them to His will. They will be fired up for Christ in ways that will inescapably set them against the spirit of the world. The Bible is clear about how we should use and protect our minds:
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:2
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Many believers who have been affected by the world will neglect the loving fellowship of other spiritually minded believers, and will seldom think deeply about the indispensable fullness of Bible teaching. God’s Word pulls no punches. Friendship with the world turns us into God’s enemies: “Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God” (James 4:4, Amplified Bible). Rather than being the world’s friend, we are to do all we can to make sure we don’t get contaminated by it (see 1:27).
When we allow ourselves to become accustomed to Christless attitudes, unbelieving life philosophies and the humanist value-system all around us, our fallen nature (our flesh) will be strengthened within us. This will make God’s Word less attractive to us, and eventually His will for us will become less important. Our spiritual disciplines, including prayer, will falter, and ultimately we will be brought under the influence and authority of the wrong spirit. We will begin to blend in with the world around us. If you don’t think the world can indoctrinate you, you underestimate your vulnerabilities.
The disciplined lives of those who abide daily in Christ are characterised by a singleness of mind and the fruit of the Spirit. In fact, God’s people and the world should be as different as it gets, but sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. The Bible clearly spells out how radical life in Christ actually is. It tells us that to live is Christ and that we exist for God (consider Philippians 1:21; 1st Corinthians 8:6). While our minds are willingly and repeatedly exposed to the corrupted character of the world—in movies, television programmes, books, or through social media—can we apply the following Bible verses to our choices and preferences?
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
Let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
2nd Corinthians 7:1
Ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves
James 1:21-22
“What is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.”
Luke 16:15
We must remember that all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must someday give account (see Hebrews 4:13). With this in mind, and knowing that God has called you to a life of purity, can you comfortably make a distinction between depictions of sin and actual sin? (Does God?) Or do you believe that because you are spiritually mature you could never be tempted and tarnished? Is it possible to stay pure while you choose to be entertained by “the corruption that is the world because of evil desire”? (Please read carefully 2nd Peter 1:4-11.)
Some of the world’s entertainment appears to be neutral, and therefore harmless and inoffensive. But neutrality is simply another form of Christlessness. And who wants the world to be Christless? Make no mistake about it: a Christless environment is evidence of the satanic force that controls it. Our spiritual enemy wants Christ to be ignored and avoided, never to be exalted.
Always remember that separating ourselves from the ways of the world because we believe we have to, is very different to being offended because we willingly walk with Christ and are characterised by His nature within. One is mere religious practice, the other is evidence of the abiding fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
When teaching us how to pray meaningfully Jesus said, “Deliver us from the evil one.” He also asked the father that we should be protected “from the evil one” (see Matthew 6:13 and John 17:15, Christian Standard Bible). The evil that saturates the world flows from one distinct spiritual authority, and those who are in Christ have been delivered from it.
But those who have carelessly and recklessly stepped away from Him are living in the domain of spiritual wickedness. Once again they are subject to “the power of Satan” (Acts 26:18), and have swapped one authority for another, light for darkness.
Finally, let's remember that true disciples (followers) of Christ are called to be aliens, or outsiders, in a perishing world, and they will always be despised. Think carefully about these truths from John's gospel:
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you…
“I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
John 15:18-19; 17:14-18
Other Bible verses to prayerfully consider:
For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living).
1st Thessalonians 4:3, Amplified Bible
Stay away from every kind of evil.
(5:22).
Conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth.
1st Peter 1:17, Amplified Bible