WHY IS THE STUDY OF WORLDLINESS IMPORTANT
The study of “worldliness” is important because it is sin! At the root of every sin is Satan’s cocktail of poison containing the “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” When confronted in the Garden of Eden with this menu of desires Eve was convinced to choose what was contrary to the will of God, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). This approach has always been Satan’s device to convince man he knows better than God. This was even the tactic he used in tempting our Lord in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Fast-forward to the twenty-first century one can still see the effects of such craftiness.
As one moves through this life he must be conscious of what he does (Colossians 3:17). He must ask himself questions such as: Is the movie I’m about to watch moral and wholesome? Or, does it contain language that is not suitable to someone striving to be faithful to God and His will? He might ask: Does the book I’m about to read or movie I’m about to watch contain nudity? He must ask that question based upon the definition of what nudity is in the eyes of God and not some perception made up in the mind of man (Genesis 3:7-11; Exodus 20:26; John 21:7). He will continue to quiz himself with questions like, Would I be willing to speak out against the lifestyle of Homosexuality, even if it means persecution from principalities and powers (Romans 1:29-32)? Would I participate or condone the sin of social drinking (Proverbs 20:1)? Would I allow myself to be filled up with pride and envy (Proverbs 16:18)? Would I live a life of dire straits that I would covet what did not belong to me (Exodus 20:7)? Would I allow myself to become so angry that I would seek out wrath upon some soul (Ephesians 4:31)? Would I ever allow corrupt speech to proceed from my mouth (Titus 1:10)? With questions like these at the forefront of one’s mind he can truly proceed with the self-examination spoken of by Paul, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5)?
Answering questions concerning what I’m about to do and is it a sin against God, will allow me to fully understand the consequences of my actions. James said, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). The consequence of sin is death. The death spoken of here is a spiritual death. Death in general is a separation. Moses described the physical death of Rachel as a separation, “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin” (Genesis 35:18). As Rachel’s soul departed from her physical body, she was dead. The concept of spiritual death is the same. It is when one is spiritually separated from the living God. Isaiah wrote, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).