Mid-week lesson 2 (6/17 - 6/18)

"www.what-in-the-world.com"

Preparation for lesson: Read chapter 2 & 3 of Unfashionable.

Walk away point: Against the World for the World

The World asks, “Are you Christians for or against us?” The Church responds by saying, “Yes!”

In this weeks lesson we are going to discuss the helpful distinctions made between the uses of the word “world” in the Bible. Rightly understanding these distinctions will enable us to understand the churches place in the world and much of the Christian’s life in the world. When reading the bible, one can become confused because some of the language is seemingly contradictory. What we need to understand is that there are multiple meanings of the word world in the bible. The original language distinguishes between the meanings but when translated to English there is only one word to describe them, “world”. Let’s look quickly at some passages that have different usages of the word world in the Bible.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“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)

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

When we read these verses it seems that the Bible is practicing double talk. Three helpful categories will help us tell the difference between the way “world” is applied in the bible.

1. World as the created order

2. World as the human communities

3. World as the sinful ways of humanity

When the bible calls us to be at odds with the “world” it’s referring to this third category. If we look again to 1 John 2:15-17 Paul isn’t calling us to be against the created order (peoples places and things), but against “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions” which could be described as worldliness. We aren’t called to show displeasure toward people (your neighbors), places (Ft. Lauderdale) or things (buildings & baseballs), but we show our displeasure toward sin and worldliness. Worldliness can be described as the sinful misdirection of God’s good creation. For example a knife in and of itself isn’t a bad thing. Yet, a knife in the hands of a malicious person could be perceived as a bad thing. But, before we go calling a knife bad, what has changed about that knife? Nothing! So it’s not that the knife is bad, but it’s the misuse of the knife for evil or bad. Actually, in and of itself the knife is neither good or bad. The improper use of a thing does not invalidate the proper use of a thing. So the Christian is to live against worldliness.

This begs the question, “How are we for the world?” Christians are living for the world when they live according to God’s ways and communicate God’s truth in the world. In doing this the Christian acts as salt and light. It is for the world’s good that we fight against every sinful motive, action, desire...

So, as Christians we are to be for the world against the world (or worldliness), putting on godliness and putting off worldliness.

Questions:

1. What is your favorite thing (possession) or thing to do (activity) in the whole entire world?

Sample answers:

• I love my car, I love my books, I love my computer, I love my pet, I love my collection of...

• I love to play sports, I love to read, I love watching beautiful sunsets, I love to spend time with friends and family, I love to draw, I love watching TV, I love rafting or kayaking, I love worshipping God.

2. In (1 John 2:15) we read that we are not to love the world or the things in it. How can we understand these verses when we also read in (John 3:16) that God so loved the world... How can we love the world and at the same time not?

Sample answer:

• We have to understand what it is we are supposed to appreciate about the world and what we are should be opposed to in the world Created Order vs. Worldliness

3. When the bible talks negatively about the world it often speaks about wrong desires or the misuse of good gifts that God has given (read context of 1 John 2:15-17). What are some ways we misuse God’s good gifts?

Sample answers:

• We selfishly use money (problem of greed)

• We use our words to hurt not help

• We use people to get what we want

4. How does knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord help us to resist worldliness and at the same time give us a greater love for His world?

Sample answers:

• We learn through the Bible how to make use of the gifts God has given and how to appropriately enjoy them.