THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 26, JULY 28, 2002

THE WORLD AND ME  

            As a Christian, what is my relationship with the world supposed to be?  For the purpose of this article, I am thinking of the “world” in the sense of that which is purely physical and earthly in nature, the concerns of this life as distinguished from those of the life to come.  How am I supposed to feel about it?  

            There are several passage that help us answer this question.  In John 17, Jesus prayed to His Father concerning the apostles.  In verses 14 – 15, we find, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”  In another passage, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.”  

            It is a unique situation that exists between the Christian and the world.  While we must be “in” the world on a daily basis simply to function in life, we must also not be “of” the world.  Yet at the same time we are to function as “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13 ).  Salt acts as a preservative only of those things that it comes in contact with.  Salt left in the container and kept separate from the meat will have no affect upon it.  

            We are the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14 ).  What good is light if people can’t see it?  A flashlight left on the store shelf never helps anyone.  We have to be out “in” the world to survive and to properly function as a Christian.  

            At the same time we must understand that because of our necessary close association with  the world, there is an ever-present danger of yielding to its allurements and enticements, and that can be spiritually fatal for the Christian.  

            We must be the ones who wield the influence, and not the other way around.  Remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 17?  He wrote, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial?  Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you.”  Once again, the point is not that Christians cease all association with worldly people, but that we be the ones who exert the influence for good.  

            There are many approaches that can be taken when writing about the Christian’s relationship to the world.  From a morals standpoint, we truly must be different.  We must not think, talk, or act like worldly people.  The Bible indicates a profound difference that exists between those who belong to Jesus and those who do not.  In Romans 8:5 – 9, Paul wrote, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  In 1 Corinthians 2:14, we find, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  The practical applications of this truth are enormous.                       

            Next week we will discuss some of these practical applications.

                                                Greg Litmer

“YOU TOLD ME OF JESUS”
 

When the voice of the Master is calling

And the gates into heaven unfold,

And the saints of all ages are gathering

And are thronging into the city of gold;

How my heart shall o’erflow with rapture

If a brother shall greet me and say,

“You pointed my footsteps to heaven.

You told me of Jesus the Way!”

--Via Excel! By way of Pulpit Helps  

THE SNAKE THAT POISONS EVERYBODY  

            It topples governments, wrecks marriages, ruins careers, busts reputations, causes heartaches, nightmares, indigestion, spawns suspicion, generates grief, dispatches innocent people to cry in their pillows.  Even its name hisses.

            It is called gossip.  Office gossip, shop gossip, party gossip, church gossip.  It makes headlines and headaches.  Before you repeat a story ask yourself: is it true?  Is it fair?  Is it necessary?  If not – be quiet.  

                                    Wall Street Journal