The next segment in my series on 1 John.
“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 all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17 ESV)
All too often, Christian have used this as an excuse to avoid all things secular. Don’t go to movies, don’t listen to rock. These things are wrong because we are not to love the world. There are a few things wrong with this. One is that the ancient world did not know the religious-secular distinction that many Christians think of today. Almost everything had some religious element to it. Also, most Christians today are not consistent in avoiding all things secular. They may not listen to secular music but they watch secular sports and work at a secular job. So be careful at how you point those fingers.
The greatest thing wrong with the popular understanding of not loving the world is that it misses the definition that John gives in the passage. Is something worldly? All you have to ask is it consistent with the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions? This is what worldliness is all about.
The truth is that many pastors and other Christian leaders are worldly by these standards. They may own every Christian album and wear every Christian t-shirt, but if they are consumed with seeking their own pleasure and comfort, than they are worldly.
This is not a random definition that John is presenting. This is the exact opposite of what Jesus was like. John’s assumption is that Christians should be Christ-like. If we are not like Christ, then we are worldly.
So don’t get caught up on the music or other issues. Look deeper at how much you are becoming like Christ.
- 1 John
- Secular
- World
- Worldly
