I keep hearing so many people take so many things and say they're wrong because they're of "the world."
What does this mean?
I thought the world meant things that weren't Christian values.
I didn't know that music, dancing, singing, etc.. were "the world."
I thought it meant stuff like lasciviousness, lying, murder, immorality, etc..
We live in the world. There's quite a bit to the world. The world was created. So were we. We sing, we dance, we wear clothes, we feel, we eat, we use the toilet, we talk, we have fun, we have mourning, joy, tears, laughter, anger, sorrow, and smiles.
Where does the line start, and who decides it, between being human and part of the world we were created to be in and take care of, between that and being part of "the world" in a wicked sense?
What is "the world?"
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Gina B, Oct 16, 2012.
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The term world is certainly used in different ways in the bible. In the way you mean, it is probably used in the way of the thinking of the natural man, that is, the unsaved man. It does get abused quite frequently though for sure.
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James: "Do not love the world or anything in the world."
Jesus: "God So loved the world that he gave his only begotten son."
Just from these verses, it's obvious that the word "world" is used in different ways in scriptures...just as the word "Flesh" is (sometimes simply refering to our physical bodies, which are not ineherently sinful, but an instrument to be used for God's Glory...and other times refering to the sinful, fleshly desires that must be battled against.
The world CAN refer to the worldy system of thought and action that is opposed to God's good moral character. Much of modern entertainment fits this description, because it draws our minds to perverse things, or glorifies man without giving glory to God...but not all.
Many things are not mentioned in scriptures: Drum sets, Guitars, TV's, Cars, forks, electricity...So to say such things are inherently sinful is to go beyond the revelation of God and add our own ideas...revealing that we do not trust God's word to be sufficient for us.
Other things, Singing, music, and dancing (to name your 3) ARE mentioned in scripture...and are commended, and some commanded. Now in the type of dance we must be careful that it is not drawing undue attention to certain parts of our bodies, or causing us to be passionately embraced with someone who is not our spouse, otherwise sensual...but Dancing in itself is not sinful...When I play toddler music, my 2 year old bounces up and down...Some may say that's an expression of his sinful nature...but I believe it's an expression of his God-given rhythm and enjoyment of music as a creature made in the image of God. -
Like how my pastor sees about this that much of that can be 'rebatised" byt he church, and be now useful for the work of the Lord!
Items such as music/entertainment/movies etc! -
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
World = kosmos = Probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): - adorning, world.
Satan is called the ruler of this world. Jesus said that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth.
Satan is not stupid. He has created forces and institutions in the world that exert an influence to keep people from Christ and draw Christians away from the Spirit to be trapped in the flesh.
Some people see things like cigarettes as being part of the world system. However, many fail to see that by being motivated to act against smokers, they are also drawn by the flesh into the world.
The world can be seen in the example of the tar baby story where contact seems to create further entanglement such that we are drawn further and further into it. One might consider modern churches. According to Ephesians chapter four, we are supposed to be growing into the full image of Christ. It is hard to find any examples of this. We often find churches substituting classes, lectures, events, programs, and activities. Our churches seem little different than our schools, businesses, and government.
Satan has been working for centuries to advance global collectivism. The Bible says that we are not unaware of his schemes. Satan cannot be everywhere at once so he needs the world drawn into ever tightening collectivism to be able to leverage his influence.
The world is a noose around our neck. However, the real problem for Christians is the flesh. If we walk by the Spirit, we can reduce the influence of the flesh and grow in wisdom and truth that will help us avoid the traps and currents Satan has placed in the world to trick us. -