Christ not only came to shed His blood for our sins, but he also bled to
purchase the church (kingdom). Paul reminded the elders at Ephesus just
how much the church cost: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood”
(Acts 20:28). The church was a vital part of God’s plan for man’s salvation:
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of
the church: and he is the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). Jesus
“loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Worldliness
has been a problem for the church throughout the ages. Christ warned the
church at Laodicea about their worldliness: “I know thy works, that
thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. {16} So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth. {17} Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17). Today,
we have the same concern over worldly attitudes many members of the Lord’s
church. The scripture is clear about the role of the church in the world.
THE CHURCH MUST BE HOLY:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Each
member is to practice holiness: “But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {16} Because it is written
(Lev. 20:7), Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). We members of
the church represent Christ and the Father. No wonder some misjudge the
church because of our worldliness and hypocrisy.
ALLIANCES WITH THE WORLD ARE CONTRARY TO GOD’S WILL:
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but
not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they
may add sin to sin” (Isaiah 30:1). The Israelites sought counsel from their
worldly neighbors. Sometimes, so do we. God’s grace teaches us “that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12). The world does not have answers
to the questions that should be most important to mankind, such as: (1)
Who is my maker; (2) Why am I here? And especially (3) Where am I going?
A worldly life is not in the best interest of mankind. We are told: “Be
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
The worldly will ridicule and persecute us for notbeing like them: “Wherein
they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,
speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4). The world is full of lusts of every
kind: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world”
(1 John 2:16). It is so easy for Christians to fall prey to these enticements
of Satan: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,
and enticed. {15} Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth
sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James
1:14-15). OUR HOPE IS IN KEEPING
OURSELVES UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD:
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world” (James 1:27). How do we do this? Paul said: “Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Effectively
we are IN the world, but not OF the world. Those in the world may laugh
at us, but we will have the last laugh: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you”
(Matthew 5:12). Stand firm, stand fast!
—John D. Cotham
Shady Valley, TN