I have read many people here saying that a Christian is to refrain from "worldy" things, and I don`t really understand this term. I was wondering if someone could explain more in depth. Thank you.

This post has been edited by Rave87: May 12 2008, 05:03 AM

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

and to Cross Reference it

Matthew 6:19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


So we could say that we shouldn't desire earthly things because soon this earth will burn with fire and it will be laid bare. and our treasures are in heaven. That would be earthly things(etc., Money, fame, possessions and so on)


I hope this helps rave.

John 15:19 -

19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Titus 2:12
12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

The first Bible verse is a pretty good symbol for how the phrase "the world" is often used in conversation between Christians. Its usage is based on two different lines of thought:

Firstly,

a) Due to the "original sin", or at least due to the sins we have done ourselves, our "earthly" selves are inherently evil. They possess a "sin nature" which means we're dispositioned to choose evil over good.
a) Soul (or spirit)-body dualism. While our "worldly selves" tend to be distant from God, our "spirit", which is purified by Christ, can overcome this due to the power of the Holy Spirit. So we consist of both physical bodies and spiritual bodies?

To be honest, I don't really understand what people mean in the second point, so perhaps someone else can explain this as well.

Secondly, it's often used to reference the society that we live in... in which "the world" is used in reference to the unchristian things (e.g. promiscuity, watching inappropriate things, violence etc) which are stereotypically prevalent in today's culture. So it means that we are meant to stay away from these things.

I personally don't use such terms a lot (well, neither to do I talk about God to other people much either), but there's my thoughts on this.

Alright, so it can mean two things.

1) Materialism
2) Immorality


For the second (this is the one I thought it might mean), how is one to tell what is immoral and what is not?

I am trying to make this post without being offencive or sounding like I`m bashing, because its not my intention. The question basically arose for me while thinking about the bikini thread and the debate about the drug. Please don`t think I`m being accusatory...I am just seriously confused.

Well the bible is our instruction and it points out to us what is immoral and what isn't and plus the Holy spirit will convict you when you are doing things wrong.

We are to live for Christ. If we are immersed with things the world pushes on us, like sex, drugs, drinking, stealing, cheating, lying etc. than our communication with God is hindered and our sole desire is not to live for Him.

I would suggest that "wordly things" are how the empires of the world function. And "things above" or "spiritual things" are how the kingdom-of-God functions.

Allan.

^absolutely yes

We are to live to higher standards as Christians

The world focuses on appearance, money, music, school, and material objects.
As Christians, none of that stuff matters. We're supposed to hate the worldly things.
It just means that we focus on loving God rather than loving the world.

Should Christians not go to school?

No that's not what I meant.
It's that we shouldn't make school an idol, devoting ourselves more to school than God.

^ That's just something slack people say to make themselves feel good about being slack.

Devoting yourself to God is devoting yourself to study.

Allan

Devoting yourself to god is not devoting yourself to study. It's about how you live which studying doesn't have to be a big part of.

Yeah thanks unanimous.

I`m actually not sure if I asked this or not, but upon reviewing my threads, I could not find one. Perhaps it was only in chat. Mods, if indeed I have made one, that I missed, please merge this one.

--
Christians say they "are not of the world", and should not be "worldly". Also, that NonChristians are "worldly". So I am asking what the term "worldly" means.

Being more concerned with temporal matters and material possessions than eternity and spirtual advancement. Or, living by the morals or standards of general society rather those taught by the faith.

According to evangelical Protestants, worldliness is a lot of things.

It is caring more about things than God.

Doing things you shouldn't, like drugs, drinking alcohol, wearing scanty clothing, watching dirty movies, playing bad video games, using foul language, etc.

Making those who do the above mentioned things on a regular basis ones close friends.

I'm sure I missed stuff.

According to other forms of Christianity, worldy is about being involved in socio-economic injustices, and we are "not of this world" because we fight for a better one to come into existence.

Josh

To be of the world is to be carnal: that is, not spiritual. All men are born of the flesh, but the Christian is born of the Spirit. That just means that his spiritual eyes have been opened. He detests sin, he loves God. This is impossible but by God only, therefore in order to be born again you must do it His way.

Paul, when talking to Corinthian Christians who had a problem of Christians in their church behaving like "mere men", addressed them thus:

"For you are yet carnal: for where there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?" 1 Corinthians 3:3

In contrast, the badge of the Christian is love:

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

Love is defined by keeping the commandments of God. If you love someone, you will not steal, kill, commit adultery, lie, covet, and you will honor your father and mother. You will be humble, preferring others above yourself, meek, courteous, etc. Love "suffereth long, and is kind, love envies not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never fails, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away" (Corinthians 13:4-8).

To be opposite from that in any way is to be the opposite of love, which is the way of the world.

This post has been edited by Rayn: Oct 14 2009, 09:31 PM

Being "not of this world" means that Christians realize that their true calling is in God. Look around you - people are taking comfort in the world some way or another - it's how we cope with the day-to-day chaos. People believe in sex, or homeyness, or stuff, or money is what will make them safe. Because all that stuff is from the "world," it's worldly.
Christianity on the other hand teaches that God is what we should really take comfort in - everything above is unstable or fades eventually, but God never, ever changes. It's what makes Him different from the world. Basically being "not of the world" means remembering God is more important than other stuff.

To be "not of this world" is to live an ascetic life. That's not something practiced by most Christians today.

As per Rave's request, I've merged this thread with her old one on the same topic.

And my answer is still the same, btw.

It's hard for me to give a definition without leaving room for question...
To me worldly is:
1. Opposite of God
2. Puts the focus on man rather than God.
3. May take glory from God.
4. Sinful
5. Immoral
Whatever falls in these categories, to me, is worldly.

Would like to comment that the soul and spirit are not the same thing. Also, we are to be purified in our body, mind, and spirit in Christ. Not just one or another.




Pretty accurate answer. Also includes wild parties, such as those which involve drinking, and etc..

We have a physical body, that's obvious.
But we live inside our body. Our body isn't the only thing to us. We are inside our bodies, which is our spirit/soul.. When we say "we" or "I', we arent talking about our bodies, or our hand, or our head, but when we say "we" or "I", we are talking about the "me" that's on the inside, the part that lives on after our bodies die.
And in this part of ourselves, there is a sinful aspect. Built into our spirits, is a sinful nature. The "me" on the inside is sinful. I'm sinful. My hand isn't sinful, my body isn't sinful, but the me on the inside is...
But, when Christ imparts His Spirit to us, His Spirit joins to our spirit, and that Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is an aide to help us overcome the sinfulness of our own spirit. So the more we trust in His Sprirt, the more of His holiness do we walk in, and the less sinfulness of our own spirits do we allow.... Get it. I can give scripture refrences if you need them.


On another thought, I heard a preacher give a definition of worldliness.
Worldliness - An approach to life that doesn't include God.


I don't agree with that.

This post has been edited by h03t: Oct 20 2009, 10:08 AM