“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. {16} 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. {17} And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
Right after I was baptized and became a Christian I began to get serious about holiness. I vowed that I would clean up my life and remove every trace of worldliness. So I started with the most worldly thing I possessed: my music collection. I went through all my music and discarded anything that didn’t seem “Christian”. I took a brown paper grocery bag and began to fill it with cassette tapes of bands who acted sinful or whose song lyrics contained cuss words or ideas that were ungodly. I discarded anything that seemed antithetical to my newfound faith.
When I was done I had filled that brown paper bag to overflowing. I must have thrown away hundreds of tapes.
I think about that now and I chuckle. To be honest, I’d like to have a few of those tapes back.
What makes me chuckle is the way I thought that I could so neatly and decisively separate myself from the “world”. It doesn’t work that way. In reality, it is as the poet said: “The world is too much with us” (Wordsworth).
Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t advocate filling your mind with media that is full of coarse language and ungodly images. What goes in comes out. Fill your heart and mind with ungodly things and ungodliness will be the result.
Jesus told the Pharisees — “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
What’s in the heart eventually shows up in a person’s life. This is why Solomon warns us — “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
But the idea that we can completely shield ourselves from the world and remove all traces of its influence from our lives is a pipe dream. The world is too much with us.
Christians have some hard choices to make these days.
Should I stop shopping at this store now because of the policy they have adopted which doesn’t align with my values?
Should I avoid this movie because of the lifestyle of one of its characters?
Should I be listening to this artist who has publicly and loudly disavowed their faith?
Should I go to the work party where I know there will be alcohol — and lots of it?
Should I avoid this theme park and take my kids somewhere else because of their stance on certain issues?
Those are difficult questions which require much thought and prayer.
At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves: “Where do I draw the line?” Your answer to that will depend upon your values and beliefs. All of which should come from the Scriptures (Psalm 119:9).
But, again, the reality is that we will have to live our lives in this world. We cannot escape it. If we were to avoid anyone and everything that is ungodly or has the potential for ungodly influence over our lives, we would have to live the rest of our lives in a cave somewhere in the Yukon. By ourselves.
And I think that is the exact opposite of God’s intention for us. Jesus taught that we are to be “in the world, but not of it” (John 17:11-16). That is, we are to remain in the world so that we might have an influence upon it for God. At the same time, we are to pursue holiness. For He has said: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Being in the world provides us with opportunities to represent Christ and share our faith.
Going to that work party might prompt a coworker to ask why it is that you don’t drink alcohol.
Taking a friend to see that movie might lead to a conversation about the lifestyle in question.
And keep in mind: there are probably many employees in that store who feel the same as you about that policy. And they’re struggling — torn between their faith and their job. Maybe you can share with them your own struggles as a person of faith.
We have to decide: “Where do I draw the line?” But in drawing that line we mustn’t think we can completely separate ourselves from the world. That’s foolish. Instead, try Jesus’ approach: in the world, but not of it.