A Study of Worldliness - Part One (Philippians 3:19)

This is more of a post to jot down notes about a certain topic.  I generally write down my thoughts as they come up.  This topic is about worldliness, something Christians must avoid in their Christian life.  Believe me, based on these verses, God doesn't take too kindly to worldliness!

The starting point is the following:

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

 Let's see, going back a few verses for context...

This is part of a passage about striving towards the goal, which is the "prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (v. 14).

v. 16: Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing...OK, live our lives in the pursuit of Christ, got it.

v. 17: "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."  Just as we are to mark brothers that follow unbiblically (Romans 16:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, so are we to mark those who are following Christ, to show others as an example.

v. 18: "even weeping": Paul is that grieved that some people live their lives against Christ, and for themselves.

"the enemies of the cross of Christ": A cross is an instrument of literal pain.  We are told to carry our crosses (Luke 14:27, among other places).  I've heard that it means to be ready to die at any moment, but that's not what you do if you literally carry a cross.  However, and correct me (Proverbs 6:23) if I'm wrong, but it does mean that suffering is to be expected every day as part of a believer's life. 

To be an enemy of the cross of Christ could be that they are opposed to a life of suffering, which a believer must endure as part of the path to the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

Now, to v: 19:

"Whose end is destruction": Those who live for themselves go to Hell.

"whose God is their belly": A secular example is the comedian Gabriel Iglesias.  This is what Mr. Iglesias had to say about "living life" vs. "living to 100":

"I get people that'll pull me aside and go,  'Gabriel, you're a very funny guy, you're very talented, don't you think, perhaps, you're living a little excess in life?'
And I'm like, 'Well, I love to eat.'
'Well, don't you want to live to be a hundred?'
'Well, not if I can't eat tacos, and as many as I want.'"

Gabriel Iglesias has a god.  It's his belly.

Here's another example of people whose gods are bellies.  I came across a segment called "New Rules" from the TV show "Real Time With Bill Maher" in which Mr. Maher said:

"And finally, new rule: Everybody should be allowed to let themselves go a couple of times a year.  Like now, the dog days of summer, school's out, rule's out, it's hot, vacation time; no one should have to diet on vacation.  And...the holidays.  That's the other 'OK, I'll let myself go' time of year.  And who can blame us?  It's the end of the year, structured around feast days.  No one should feel bad about opening up the pants after Thanksgiving dinner, that thing where you undo the top button and try to hold together with just the belt.  That's all fine.  But not all year round."

In this segment, Mr. Maher rebukes the phenomenon of "fat acceptance", where gluttony is not just mainstream, it's celebrated. (similar to Romans 1:32).  

Yet, I want to focus on the first part of his segment:  Being allowed to gorge yourself at certain times.  This is too similar to Ecclesiastes 10:17:

Ecc_10:17  Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that to eat merely for pleasure is, at the very least, frowned upon in Scripture.  What I'm more confident about, its that anyone who always eats just for pleasure likely has their bellies for a god.

"whose glory is in their shame": Not sure what that means.  Remember what I said about the KJV being a little confusing at times?  Let's try the ESV: "they glory in their shame": That's a little better.  Hmm...there is a saying that goes "Have you no shame?"  That's those people.  They're not ashamed of the shameful things they're doing.  

"who mind earthly things": In my opinion, the ESV makes it a little clearer:  "with minds set on earthly things"

Hmm...trying to think of an example of someone having their minds set on earthly things.  Well, looking forward to a new TV show, or to attend Comicon (that's not a typo), etc.

So, if we as believers are not to set our minds on earthly things, what are we to set our minds on?

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

And how are we to do that?

Php_4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Good stuff.  Oh, here's one idea! (and readers, all this is for you too)  Think about what good works you can do while you're on this earth:

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

I have other things to talk about regarding worldliness in the coming days.  One that just popped in my head just now (I worked on this blog post over a couple days), is concerning I John 4:5:

1Jn_4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

How you speak in this world is an indicator of where your allegiances lie.  (similar to Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45)

Until then, keep the faith!

 

Why I Use The King James Version (It's Not Because Of KJV-Only)

Some people may ask why I use the King James Version in nearly all of my Scripture references.  

Firstly, let me tell you that it's not at all because of any adherence to KJV-Only teaching.  I'm going to say this right now, on the record:

I do not believe that the King James Version is the only legitimate English translation of the Bible.

So there, I am not KJV-Only at all.  To any and all fundamentalists who disagree with me, no need to break out Ephesians 5:11.  In your point of view, I am already exposed as practicing the works of darkness.

Now, why do I use the KJV?

Firstly, it's public domain.  This is really helpful when quoting Scripture, because with newer versions, copyright law can get a little dicey.  Yes, I know that many versions (for example, the NIV) allows you to copy about 1,000 verses without infringement, as long as the quotation doesn't account for a majority or the entirety of a text, etc.  I'd rather use a version that's free from all restrictions like this, just to make things simple.

Secondly, on that note, it's universally known.  Since 1611, everyone, including non-believers, can recognize the word and sentence structure of many popular verses, such as John 3:16, even with words like "begotten" and "everlasting".

Thirdly, the translators use more of a "word for word" method instead of "thought for thought".  This is a personal preference for me, all seeing as I also use Strong's Dictionary and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to learn definitions of words and find connecting verses, the latter resource using the KJV.  All this available for free from e-Sword (not a plug by the way).

Now, I'm not at all saying that the KJV is perfect, no version is.  Nor am I saying that I understand every archaic English word in the KJV (I hop to other versions to find a more modern English word).  However, because of these three reasons, it's very useful to me in studying the Word of God and sharing my faith.

On Desiring Persecution

This topic came to my mind while I was at work, and I had to be honest with myself:  I want to be persecuted for my faith.  In my mind, if I am persecuted for my faith, I know that I'm on the right track.  If I'm never persecuted at all, it is evidence that I don't even want to live godly in Christ Jesus, thus, I am not saved.

It is written:

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

If you want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, persecution is guaranteed.  You don't have to wait for it, it will just come.  Persecution is promised to you.

 

A Reward In Heaven

Plus, if you are persecuted for the Truth, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is yours, and your reward in Heaven is great:

Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

 

Longing For Persecution Is Good

To desire persecution, actually, is to be in good company, for Paul says:

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

In other words, Paul longed for this, which includes suffering.  And when Scripture says suffering, they mean ACTUAL, LITERAL SUFFERING.  In the early days of the Church, Peter and the other apostles knew this well:

Act 5:40  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  

 

Persecution Is A Mark Of Worthiness

In fact, they considered persecution a mark of being worthy:

Act 5:41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

If you are persecuted for your faith in the Word of God, it is in part because you are counted worthy to be so.

 

What Persecution Really Means, and Paul's Example

But back to what persecution really means.  

Firstly, in order to even be in Christ, you must forsake all.  Not just be willing to forsake all, but ACTUALLY FORSAKE ALL.  Jesus never said "be willing", He simply said:

Luk 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 

If you don't forsake all that you have, you are not going to Heaven.  Saving faith and discipleship go hand in hand.  Nowhere in Scripture are there differences between "believers" and "disciples".  If you believe, you will learn from (be a disciple of) Him.

Paul is a textbook example of enduring persecution:

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
(2Co 11:24-27)

Look at that: Whippings, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, lost at sea, many perils, tiredness, pain, insomnia (watchings), hunger, thirst, fasting, cold, nakedness.  Today we would equate that to a homeless man.  No job, no car, no shelter, sometimes no food and no clothing.  All in the name of Christ.

We must all renounce everything for Christ, which could include all of the above, being a complete persona non grata in this world.

Yet, what was Paul's response to this?

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Everything means EVERYTHING.  Yet, he has Christ, and because of that, having nothing in this world was worth it.

Now, will every believer suffer in the same way as Paul?  I highly doubt it.  Besides, even if you don't suffer as badly as Paul, even something as simple as:

Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 

is enough to be counted as persecution, still worth a great reward in Heaven (v. 23).  Still, we must be open to Paul's gauntlet of sufferings.

So, with the examination of the Scriptures, my desire is biblically sound.  Correct me if I'm wrong (Proverbs 6:23).

All I simply need to do is live for Christ, which means doing the radical (even Luke 12:33 is on the table!).  I hope and pray I am given the will and the action. (Philippians 2:13)  I don't need to worry (Philippians 4:6) about whether or not persecution will come.  If I'm living for Christ and following His Word, IT WILL COME.

 

On Freedom

 Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

I know that this verse is inconsistent with the story, but it is a reminder of something that I treasure in my heart.

For over half my life, one of the biggest desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4) was freedom.  It didn't matter in what form it came, if I knew I had freedom, it was bliss to me.

I was reminded of that today when watching the news.  There was a college student that walked hundreds of miles in more than a fortnight to reach his destination school, all to raise money for the homeless.

This lit a fire in my heart, not the matter of the homeless (which I also have a heart for), but the mere idea of just simply...walking.  Walking...to wherever you need to be.

In the winter, when spending the night in town, I usually walk to work.  It was about a mile each way, and it took between 20-30 minutes.  There is a bike trail in town that I use.  Still, it felt good not to have to drive to work.

Anyway, I had this idea:  Why not try to talk to a nearby town from where you currently live?  I currently live in the country.  The nearest town is between 4-6 miles away.  Walking will take me about two hours one way.  I thought to myself, "Why not?"  There is also a trail that I use near home.  I used that trail one time to bike to that town, just because I could.  The round trip took about two hours.  So again, why not?  

Other kinds of freedom I enjoy is being able to do things without modern technology, or buying things at the thrift store instead of buying them brand new.  Maybe it's contentment that I love (Hebrews 13:5). Perhaps it's God opening my eyes to practical ways of living I've never previously considered.

Right now, this is the best I can do to articulate the positive feeling I have right now.  Yes, there's much negativity to report in the world, especially in modern Christianity.  The deluge of false churches and false doctrines (Jer 5:27a  As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit...) are an obvious testament to that.  Yet, not everything in life is doom and gloom.

Oh, here's something to chew on regarding those negative and positive times:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
(Ecc 3:1-8)

"Christian Nerds Unite" Loves The World

First and foremost, let me explain myself.  As I have mentioned many times before in this blog, I used to be a fan of many things, game shows, Star Trek, etc.  I still consume this entertainment from time to time, and I still have much knowledge of these fandoms.  However, I am trying to remove my association with such things in the name of Christ (James 4:7-10), because of His warnings, which are mentioned in this piece.

 A while ago, I came across this podcast called "Christian Nerds Unite".  Immediately, alarm bells were ringing, because of the whole "nerds" thing, not the whole pocket-protector glasses nerd, etc., but the whole "I love pop culture" nerd thing.  So, in the spirit of I Thessalonians 5:21, I went to their website.  Here is what is said on the main page, clear as crystal:

Hi Guys! Ricky Pope here from the Christian Nerds Unite Podcast. On the show we dive deep into our nerdy fandoms and look at them through the lens of our faith by chatting with Christian content creators and experts who love comics, science, video games, media, sci-fi, and fantasy. Discovering how their faith shapes their creative work and their lives. You can listen on your favorite podcast app!

What is a fan?  According to Oxford Languages, a fan is:

a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing.

I John 2:15-16 says:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.

Ricky Pope, as a fan of many things, loves the world, and the love of the Father is not in him.  

Now, I am not saying that it is loving the world to use the things of the world in and of itself, for Paul says:

1Co 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

It is the abuse, overuse, that is sinful.  In addition, we are warned against being a friend of the world in James:

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Is not fandom being a friend of the world?  Mr. Pope cannot use Christianity as a means to also continue being a fan of things of the world.  God is jealous:

Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?