Separation From The World

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: Christian Standards | Oct 1973

We cite four apostles who in their writings made reference to the world, and we have paraphrased their very weighty comments by way of introduction to our subject:

James, in his most practical epistle, said that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).

Paul, who could have been considered worldly-wise before his conversion, counselled, his fellow-Christians not to be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2).

Peter, who had a very close view of the hatred of worldly men towards Christ, warns of corruption and defilement in the world (2 Pet. 1:4;2:20).

John, the apostle of love, declares very firmly, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1 John 2:15).

And what of the Lord and Master of these devoted men? He made it very clear that His kingdom and His disciples were not of the world, which hated them. In the world His followers must expect tribulation (John 16 33 17 14 1836)

There is a valid reason for the world to be considered in such an unfavourable light by the Lord and His apostles, and it is no doubt found in the revealing statement which He made as Calvary drew near. "I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in Me" (John 14:30). Are Christians fully aware of the import of these words? They certainly add emphasis to the words of John that "the whole world lieth in the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Virtually we are being told that the course of this world is under the guidance and control of Satan. The seriousness of this revelation is even more emphasized by the Lord's temptation by the Devil in the wilderness. Taking Him up to a high mountain the adversary showed God's Son all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, saying, "To Thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whosoever I will I give it" (Luke 4:6). This is an insight into the power the Devil has, and knowing that he is the controlling and guiding force behind the world's programmes and plans, how can Christians have affinity with them, or hold out the right hand of fellowship to the world?

It was indeed a black day when the ideal environment of the garden of Eden was invaded by Satan, the father of lies, for his foul treachery opened the floodgate of sinful pollution to engulf the human race until this day. High tide has not been reached even yet, and none but the blind can fail to see corruption, licentiousness, greed, violence and hatred mounting higher and higher until the climax is reached in the soon coming "last days". Having failed to gain the throne of heaven by rebellion (Isa. 14:12-15), the adversary determined to rule the earth after he was cast out of the divine presence. There is great significance in the title the Lord Jesus gave him as "the prince of this world". It means the chief ruler. The power of darkness is under the mastery of this potentate whose authority and influence and strength are superhuman. How thankful every Christian should be for the great work of the Saviour at Calvary which translated us from this evil power into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col. 1:13)! What a deliverance! But how alert we should be to the fact that the world is under Satan's sway, and although he is not all-powerful. as God alone is, yet he wields tremendous power, doing so until he is banished eternally to the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10).

Until he is judged, "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4) will not only cause wickedness to increase, but he will use all the subtlety at his disposal to ensnare and entangle God's people in the multifarious involvements of this world. Obvious things, and apparently innocent things, will all be used to draw us into his net. The end in view is to render us impotent and useless for God. He will make the identical offer to us that he made to our Master, "all this will I give thee" if we will give him our time, our allegiance, our worship. It was to disciples the Lord said, "For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?" (Matt. 16:26). How anxious the Devil is to draw us away from the Lord. Let us not then be deceived by the prosperity, the prospects, and the pleasure the world has to offer. Let us get things into perspective by realizing that the world is getting worse, and is ripening fast for God's judgement. It is a good thing for Christians to keep a balance, having an "understanding of the times" like the children of Issachar (1 Chron. 12:32); and then we will realize that we must stand aloof from a world which is a seething cauldron of immorality, witchcraft, cheating, gambling, conspiracies, drugs, alcoholism, filthy speech, lies, and greed. Ordinary people have little conception of how corrupt human society has become. Even a little lifting of the lid would shock beyond words any respectable human. How then can we make friends with this system, this society, this environment, which men have contrived and devised at the behest of the evil one?

We must face the fact, however, that we are in the world and we have a responsibility to live as lights, and act as pilgrims and strangers. We are in the world, but not of it, using but not abusing it (1 Cor. 7:31). We cannot isolate ourselves from men, but we must insulate ourselves from those things which would compromise our position as those who have been brought "within a given circle" by God, which is one of the renderings of the word "peculiar" as describing His own people (1 Pet. 2:9). Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and this precludes us from involvement in the elections of governments. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12), and this prevents us from engaging in military combat. We are in the fellowship of God's Son (1 Cor. 1:9), and so we cannot be joined to other fellowships. We are pilgrims and sojourners, and this would discourage us from gathering wealth and possessions as men do. This does not absolve us, of course, from so living as to meet our earthly obligations and to provide for our families (1 Tim.

In conclusion we would like to refer to one of the paradoxes of Scripture to bring out the thought that the Christian does not have to be negative in his approach to the world. We are reminded in an oft quoted verse, "For God so loved the world" (John 3:16), yet we are exhorted, "Love not the world" (1 John 2:15). A contradiction? No! God loved men and women; He loved sinners, but not their sin. And so He sent His Son who came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). It is incumbent upon us to love as Christ loved; not the things of the world, not the evil, not the pleasures, not the entertainment, not the things which the Devil uses to hold men in bondage. Our love should be for men and women who need Christ, and to be saved from eternal doom. The Eternal One who is the faithful and true Witness, wants us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8); the One who said, "I am the light of the world" (John 9:5), tells us, "Let your light so shine before men" (Matt; 5:16). This is the Christian's positive approach to a world in darkness and in need.

"Men die in darkness at your side,

Without a hope to cheer the tomb,

Take up the torch and wave it wide,

The torch that lights time's thickest gloom."

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Oct 1973
Christian Standards