WORLDLINESS (PART 2)

Link to Part 1

WHY ARE SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WORLDLY?
I would say the first cause is a failure to properly evaluate life. Too many members of the church have not learned the real values of life. They are interested in finding happiness, but do not know where it is to be found. It has never dawned on them that happiness is determined by what one is. Look at the beatitudes and note the emphasis on character. Substitute the word “happy” for the word “blessed” and re-read the beatitudes. Someone describes Paul in prison as follows: “with life and all that men count dear behind, and with the horrors of a barbarous death before him, alone, unfriended and suckered, he is yet the happiest man in Rome. Among the millions within her wide walls, not another heart is so buoyant with hope, so lifted with you.” This was true of Paul because he had learned life’s value. He was happy because of what he was.

A second reason so many members of the church are worldly, is that they have never tried to reach their potential in Christian living. Life will not remain a vacuum. It will be filled with something. If all Christians would make a determined effort to fill their lives with good, there would not be any place for the worldly. Too many are satisfied to just “get in” the church, and then just do as little as possible! The natural result from such is to fill the void that is left with worldliness. God knew what he was doing when he said, “seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33) This is not just an arbitrary command. It has as its basis the building of a life that is spiritual. The way to get worldliness out, is to put something in its place! Just as long as there are members of the church who refuse to fill their lives with service for God, there will be worldly members.

A third reason for so much worldliness in the church is indifference. This is perhaps one of the greatest hindrances to the solution of the problem. It is so much easier to travel the path of least resistance, to take the road mapped out by others, than it is to find out whether it is right or not. So many members of the church live day after day not caring that they have no influence for good and are not interested in learning why. They are afraid if they got interested it would upset their own lives and they just do not want this to happen. Let the preacher present any lesson and they refuse to give it even a passing thought.

A fourth reason for worldliness in the church is that there are some who do not want to pay the price that is necessary to be spiritual. The story is told of a young woman, who having observed the charming life and broad influence of a fine Christian woman, went to her and said, “I would give the world if I could only have your influence.” The lady replied, “that is exactly what it costs.” There is a price for everything, and spirituality is no exception. Until more Christians are willing to pay the price of spirituality, the church will be filled with worldliness.

A fifth reason for worldliness in the church is that many are guided by custom rather than the Bible. There are many members of the church who want the Bible on the plan of salvation, the church, its organization, and worship; but, they do not want the Bible on worldliness. Do they ever give chapter and verse for their worldly practices? No. Their theme song is: “everybody else is doing it,” “I can’t see any harm in it.” That is exactly what denominational people say about instrumental music. Why reject their plea for instrumental music and then turn right around and use their old worn-out arguments for your worldly practices? Then some say, “I can do it and it won’t hurt me.” Suppose you could. Can a conscientious Christian be happy when he knows he is giving his time and lending his influence in that which degrades more than it uplifts?

Let us face the threat of worldliness and build lives that are spiritual.

Franklin Camp