Worldliness

In his book, “The Hole in Our Holiness,” Kevin DeYoung defines worldliness as “whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange.” Worldliness involves becoming numb to sin.  When we begin to be allured by the world, acceptance of sin becomes the norm, and the pursuit of holiness seems unnecessary.  However, can we truly serve God and still savor our sin?

The Bible speaks on this very issue.  1 John 2:15-17 says, “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 of life—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.”

Love of the world is evident when our lives mirror the world.  If we are believers in Christ, our lives should look radically different.  The way we speak, the way we respond, the way we serve; it all should point to our desperate need for Christ and utmost joy in glorifying Him.

Is Christ our supreme treasure, or are we treasuring the entertainments offered to us by the world? Where are our affections?  What holds us captive to the here and now and apathetic toward the eternal? Are we intentionally pursuing a life of holiness, or passively following the lifestyle of the world?

To live radically different and set apart, we need a “gouge your eye out” call to holiness.  In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”  

Let us examine our lives and take this approach with our worldly distractions.  What will it take to eliminate them? Deleting social media from our phone? Canceling Netflix? 

Pray with me that the Lord would show us what is taking our eyes off of Him and enticing us to treasure the world.  What steps are we willing to take to eliminate distractions so that we may treasure Christ above all else? 

Let us join Paul in saying, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:8).” Is He worth it? He is.

-Andrea Shustella (Covenant Member)