In James chapter four we read that one is an enemy of God even if they are just friends with the world. This can seem strange to us as we might not see the world as hostile enough to God to be considered an “enemy”. We live in a unique time in human history. Satan (who sets the course of the world, Eph 2:2) needed a period of stability in which the technological tools he needed to try to enslave the world could be developed. To accomplish this, he allowed a partial Christian culture to emerge.

Those of us old enough can remember a time when people in general were more honest, diligent, and good. Because this period of time covered several generations, many came to think this was the natural state of man. Europe is already ahead of us in descending back to the barbarism that is the natural state of man. Europe still has a way to go in that the rape, murder, and theft culture of Islam that they have been importing is still a shock to them. What they are experiencing is not something necessarily defective with Islam, but the natural state to which they themselves are all headed now that they have abandoned Christ.

One historian described political liberalism as secularized Christianity. There is an idea that one should be good without the means or reason to do so. This was useful to establish a sort of “Potemkin” Christian culture that gave the illusion that our Christian culture was continuing when it was actually rotting from the inside.

Dog eat dog, the survival of the fittest, and every one for themselves pretty much defines the world. With the ascendency of corporations and governments one should expect collective tyranny as it is the way to marshal the most strength to use against the powerless and weak. This is the natural state of man.

As things continue to unravel, Christians need to consider the degree to which they have been entangled in the world. Seeking employment can increasingly demand that Christians advocate social and political views that are hostile to the God of truth. Christian parents can begin to see homeschool as an alternative to prevent worldly values and philosophies from being injected into their children. The bible tells us that we cannot separate ourselves from dealing with the evil people in the world (1 Cor 5:9-10). However, it is suggested that we keep ourselves “unspotted” (James 1:27).

We might learn from the example of Israel. Jesus offered the kingdom to the nation. The reason they failed to receive it was two fold. The first was the influence of religious leaders who saw in Jesus not the promised king and kingdom, but a threat to their position and traditions. Secondly, the majority of people had little interest.

Christians today can be as mistaken about their individual salvation just as most Israelites were about the kingdom offer. Religious leaders can be mistaken and religious apathy and indifference can disconnect one from saving faith. One measure of this condition is to what degree one is “friendly" with the world. Christians who wish to not be found as enemies of God should consider examining and questioning their faith to make sure that they have not been mistaken or misled.

 

Being able to escape entanglement with the world is getting easier every day as the world so rapidly returns to its natural state of foolishness, immorality, and selfishness.

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. - John 15:19