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?
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!
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