How do we recognize worldliness for what it is?

For the past month or so, Tom has been preaching about worldliness during the Sunday morning service. Last Sunday as he preached, I thought of four verses that would help me recognize and deal with worldliness in my own soul. Each of the verses teaches the first half of "the chief end of man." (As a child, I was taught the catechism of the reformed Baptist Christian school I attended in the second grade. I still remember the first question: "What is the chief end of man?" and the answer: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.")

1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Peter 4:11: If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 1:20: According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

My thoughts along this line were that anything that glorifies Christ is holy. Anything that does not glorify Christ is worldly. If you cannot honestly say that this action, this habit, this clothing, this whatever, glorifies Christ, then that item is worldly.

The problem is that we are now so in tune to the world that we don't even recognize it. It has crept in subtly, unawares. Just like the proverbial frog who was slowly boiled to death, we've been cooked, and don't even realize it.

Some time ago I posted a review of a book I like very much. Here is a quote from that book, that defines the problem quite well:

The problem is that we have mimicked the world for so long--copying their fashions, borrowing their educational and social philosophies, conforming to their dating format, and adopting their dialect--that we do not even realize we have lost our Christian identity. We've been wearing the costume and speaking the language of the world for so long that we don't even recognize ourselves anymore.

So where to we go from here? How do we learn to recognize worldliness for what it is?

More later...

Now Playing in a Church Near You...

The ever popular theme "Worldliness in Sheep's Clothes" is taking our churches by storm. Some critics are saying that the theme is mis-named--it should be "Sheep in Worldly Clothes." Others say either name fits. Tune in next time to learn more. Meanwhile, tell us what YOU think! Cast your vote today.

Choice #1: "I looked for the World and found it in the Church."

Choice #2: "I looked for the Church and found her in the World."

Choice #3: Both 1 and 2.

Choice #4: Who cares?

Wise Mothers, Wise Daughters

I wrote this up as a mother/daughter hand out for my little girls' Sunday school class. I had it as a two-column spread so that the part for mothers and the part for daughters was side by side for comparison. But I can't do two columns on this blog. If you want to print this out, you could copy and paste onto your word processor and fix it up so that the verse runs across the page, at the top, like a title, and then have the mother/daughter part in two columns.

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands” (Proverbs 14:1).

A WISE mother builds her house by…

…keeping her house clean and tidy.

…being careful how she spends money.

…making sure everyone has the food and clothes they need.

…making sure everyone does their share of the work.

…honouring her husband and submitting to him

…encouraging her children to behave in a way that glorifies Christ—at home and in public.

…cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in her heart and in her children’s hearts.

…teaching her children to fear God and obey His commands.

A WISE daughter helps by…

…keeping her room, her work areas and her play spaces clean and tidy.

…not asking for things to be bought for her when she doesn’t really need them, and saving her own money for things she wants.

…helping to make meals, eating what she’s given without complaining, and keeping her clothes neat and clean.

…honouring and obeying her father

…doing her own work cheerfully, minding her own business, and helping others when she can.

…behaving in a way that glorifies Christ—at home, with her friends, and in public.

…cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in her own heart.

…fearing God and obeying His commands.

Questions

Will the Lord cast off for ever?
And will he be favourable no more?
Is his mercy clean gone for ever?
Doth his promise fail for evermore?
Hath God forgotten to be gracious?
Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?
--Psalm 77:7-9

These verses were part of my morning reading today. And in my thoughts I asked another question:

Where is the revival we have so longed for?

Answered prayer

Stephen and Rebekah Walker welcomed their new son Brandon into the world Monday! Rebekah's aunt tells me that Mother and Baby were scheduled to come home yesterday. Continue to pray in the next few weeks for Brandon's continued health and Rebekah's recovery.