'Worldliness' defined by a secular dictionary looks like this...
"the quality of being experienced and sophisticated."
The Dictionary of Oxford Languages explanation continues,
"...concerned with material values or ordinary life rather than a spiritual existence."
Turning up that definition's intensity we learn from compelling truth.org that worldliness is,
"nothing less than idolatry - exchanging the truth of God to a lie and worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator."
Right off the bat, the brother or sister-in-Christ can gauge his or her self as to their standing on the worldliness scale according to the measurements of these definitions. This is not to throw condemnation upon any of my God's fellow-family members in any way. It's just that this study has shown me up in places I was unaware, you could say I became 'enlightened'. Once we realize our blindspots then we can confess it to the Lord, receive His forgiveness and then with Holy Spirit's help, work on shedding our worldliness with repentant hearts.
This is where the adjective "respectable" plays its part cuz this is what is being honed in on. This is what we may well be unaware of, as just saying, "worldliness" you may think, well I don't engage in sexual immorality, vulgar talk or actions and the like, so I must be o.k. No, problems there; so we justify ourselves, dust off our hands and go our merry way.
STOP right there! Know that respectable worldliness can be subtle and deceptive and we can obliviously deceive ourselves. That's why each of us must listen up here.
Like the proverbial frog in a pot on the stove doesn't realize its goose is cooked until the water temperature gets too hot for it to hop out, so too, believers in Jesus Christ can become immune to society's philosophies when basking in them too long. Even way back in Old Testament Isaiah's time, he wrote,
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20).
"Respectable worldliness" appears to be "going with the flow" because everyone else thinks like this and does this or that in this way. Society of the times believes or claims to speak truth for everyone - this is what we do in our day and age and all else is old-fashioned bigotry and the like. This 'truth' does not align to God's Word. In fact, it is generally very much the opposite - as dark is from light.
This is mankind's methodology, NOT God's. So why would some kinds of worldliness be harder to condemn? I'd say it's because there is actually be some form of decent respectability in their practice.
As alluded to earlier, sexual immorality is obviously UNholy in God's way of living a good Christian lifestyle. Yet, for example, when a believer in Jesus Christ wants to court and marry an unbeliever, that is also against God's will but many people don't think it matters. The man may argue, "but she's so good and kind to everyone, helps the poor and needy. You wait and see, she'll come round to my beliefs; after all, we are both doing good to help those less fortunate, together. Furthermore, NO-one cares much about religious perspectives anymore."
Well, that's what he thinks and he is not alone in this thinking. However, did you note who prefers these subtleties? It's mankind's, NOT God's, preferance.
Most of us are familiar with the verse,
"Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? or what fellowship has light with darkness" (2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV)?
To rationalize your way to your own interests and desires is not God's way. To think one can do "missionary dating" and your girl or guy will "come round," is putting the cart before the horse and ignoring God's interests in our life. Do you think God will honor you? Out of His grace and kindess, He may. Nevertheless, don't put God to the test.
I write these things to those of us who belong to Jesus Christ through faith in Him and His salvation. Let us desire to do His will for us as He did His Father's and drop the 'respectable worldliness' line and life. Let us continue to walk circumspectly before God.
Moving on, take a look at other areas of danger in which we might be imbibing "respectable worldiness". How about 'the working mother'? Don't get your backs up, I do realize single Mom's have to feed and clothe their family. I'm referring more to those couples who desire a double income in order to reach a higher standard of living and let their children be raised by others, even if left in the care of grandparents. The rationality is "we want to give our children better things" or "the cost of living is so high, and we need to pay the bills".
The danger that lurks here is that our offspring will value money more than family, God and Jesus. The children will be deprived of the benefit of a full-time mother or father's godly influence in the home. A child may be 'farmed out' to those who may well be 'good' people but who do not know, serve or worship the Lord and do not live according to His precepts. Thus, "respectable worldliness," which has value for this temportary world, is perpetuated. The permanent values of living life with Christ and seeking God's and His will are put aside.
Other 'danger zone' areas lie in what we do with our free time; business practices; church attendance (yes!) and choice of career. There could be more but we'll briefly sweep through these areas.
Certain hobbies, TV shows, hanging out for hours at a time even in 'good company'; enjoying ourselves in other pursuits but not spending time in God's Word, and thereby feeding our spirit and soul could well give us more appetite for these things rather than for the Lord and His will and ways causing one to be unaware of the worlds's/society's philosophies and standards to slowly creep in and be your angle from whence you live life, especially in decision making choices.
Sure enough, we are 'good' living and 'respectable' but our foundation has become skewed. We no longer store up treasure in Heaven.
Many business practices are not always totally honest. Take, for instance, there was once a friend who worked in a hotel. The hotel was trying to sell some very beautiful, imported vases from Indonesia. On a couple of them, they had put a sign, "Sold!" In actual fact, the sellers just did that to make people think the vases were selling like hotcakes and to hurry customers up to buy.
These are hopeful gimmicks to turn a profit by deceiving potential customers. They are not overtly 'wrong' per se but we come back to the dark vs light and these practices are not based on integrity and obedience to God's Word, like "defraud not..." (Leviticus 19:13). We can flippantly say, "oh, every business man does this! So, what?" One could become a lukewarm Christian or even fully cast aside the principles and direct commands of God's Word. Do check yourself out on this one.
Defraud not yourself by only being a "Sunday-go-to-meeting" Christian. Church attendance does not make a committed Christian out of you. It only perpetuates the "respectable worldliness" aspect with putting on a show but the rest of the week ones' behavior is otherwise. One may well be in the right place but with the wrong motive; for instance, to build business networks. Nothing wrong with that per se but, come on, does one not go to church to be part of the 'building each other up in faith, love and good works until each member comes to maturity in Christ," and to worship and praise the Lord collectively with other brothers and sisters-in-Christ?
Let us have right action and not just lip-service. May our meeting together with other believers be from a heart of love and gratitude for the Lord (Mark 7:6).
An illustration of an individual who is "respectable" but "worldly," may look like the following. The person goes to church every Sunday, teaches Sunday school, helps out in soup kitchens, donates clothes and money to those in need, tries to be as honest as possible - a "good-living" person who doesn't slouch, rather earns his or her wage in legitamate ways; very respectable, right?
However, some of the company they may associate with off work hours may be very worldly and take him or her to pubs or other dubious haunts thus vexing his or her soul. Even in an 'innocent' cafe chatting up with good-living non-church friends there could be opinions on gambling, abortion, homosexuality and the like that are not based on God's views. Like Lot of the Old Testament, who lived among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. He tormented his righteous soul to no end, yet because he used his eyes to see the lush plains that suited and supported his healthy livestock and so on, he chose that lifestyle for himself and his family. Lot lived in the here and now - for the temporary, not the eternal nor for God's interests. Consequences boiled over and down to his wife and daughters.
On the other hand, Abraham achieved a lesser goal by worldly standards perhaps, and not so important or prestigious a position as Lot's had been. Abraham was God-conscious right into his inner being and his "good living" came from the heart and not just for show and lip-service. Abraham became termed as,
"the father of all who have faith" (Galatians 3:6-9; Romans 3:27-4:25).
In more modern times, I knew of a brother-in-Christ who had been very good at his job and he was offered several promotions over his years of service to his company. He refused them, wanting to stay among the general workforce folks in order to bring Christ to these people. The 'workforce' was his chosen 'mission field'. His aim was to store up treasure in Heaven even when it meant monetary and even prestigious positions sacrifice, here on earth. He lived life for Christ seven days a week.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we should always consider God's view as laid out in the Scriptures. On this note, did you realize the Scriptures do have things to say about "respectable worldliness"?
In 1 John 2:16 we learn that everything that is not of God is lust, pride and greed and therefore, not respectable to Him. Again, in James 4:4, we learn that "friendship with the world" makes us "an enemy of God". Is this how we wish to live? Check yourself, again.
If we concentrate our lives and works on earthly things be reminded that all those things are destined for destruction, and shame. The Bible even goes so far as to say earthly wisdom is demonic (see Philippians 3:19; and James 3:15)! When a person does God's will in all sincerity, he or she will "live forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
A person's soul is more important than anything else, to God. We need to be careful of how we, as Christians, live. We do get caught up in "respectable" yet, worldly lifestyle. It's not difficult to slide into if we are not alert, like that proverbial frog.
For example, living among others in a more affluent environment, even if ones own self is not up to that stratum. Worldly values can subtly infiltrate our mindset, processing into beliefs and actions accordingly, as set by such society; materialism, a snare.
A Christian must always guard against, check, and reexamine his or her way of life in God's mirror of the Holy Bible. This will enable us to correct and/or preclude going off the rails into "respectable worldliness". We must not fool ourselves into believing we can have the best of both worlds. We will end up serving one or the other. We cannot serve two masters as one will eventually overpower the other.
Let's not put things, first, before God. When we genuinely seek God and His Kingdom first, the abundance of possessions and wanting to fit in, in society will lose their importance and not be so much of an issue. We still need to be on guard against greed and 'being in' though; thus the regular check-ups.
The abstract of a good name and to be esteemed, should be a better, more desirable focus in life, not the rat race to achieve fame and fortune, and acceptablility in society. Live in the fear of God and acccording to His ways and so give Him the glory and honor He's due (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:15; Proverbs 22:1).
Being satisfied with merely having ones' name on the church membership roll should not be. We need to be more than just Sunday-go-to-meeting Christians. We are brothers and sisters-in-Christ and we need each other; we are each part of the whole body of Christ. We need to support and help each other along the way and through difficulties of life. Additionally and of great value, is the daily living for the Lord as part of ones' spiritual 'DNA' and to help build one another up in our most holy faith towards maturity in Christ. You could call it "pro-active, genuine Christ living" (Ephesians 4:16; Romans 12:3-8).
'Forward-thinking' believers long for their Home on high - to be with Christ, which is "far better". The here and now is only temporary and pales in comparison to our eternal Heavenly Home. Remind yourself that you are only a stranger and foreigner in this world. Keeping this in mind will help guard against "respectable worldliness" and near-sightedness.
If we are not increasing in this chain of progress as seen in 2 Peter 1:5-9, we will become stagnant Christians and in all likelihood become ever increasingly worldly, albeit, mayhaps, 'respectable' Christians. These are neither hot nor cold - lukewarm, it's called - which will cause God to vomit.
Progressively add to your faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverence, godliness, mutual affection and love. "Possess," did you get that?! "POSSESS" these qualities in ever increasing manner. These are the possessions to strive for that will characterize authentic children of God.
We already had a look at Lot who was materialistic and consequently vexxed his soul because of such "respectable worldliness". Other biblical examples are: Uzzah, Gehazi, Martha, the Rich Fool and Demas.
Uzzah's 'irreverent act" got him killed. He had followed a form of worship in religious duty without the right heart for following God's ways, instead he chose man's improvision. He wanted to protect the ark of God but went about it wrongly. "Respectable worldliness" resulted, as did his death (2 Samuel 6:1-11).
Although Gehazi worked for a prophet, he wanted to profit. In his greed he made up a plausible 'holy'-sounding story but God knew and Elisha saw through the deceit. Gehazi ended up punished with Naaman's leprosy that could be seen by one and all (2 Kings 5:20-27).
Martha was "distracted by much serving". Hey, Jesus was in the house! Martha didn't realize her focus was off. She could have been sitting with Mary, enjoying Jesus' presence and words in relational felicity, connected to better things.
Sometimes we can get caught up in a ministry and lose our focus. That's when we can get distraught and grumble about unfairness and so on. Spend time with Jesus, reset your compass so as not to slip into a 'form' of godliness. Let our walk from the heart be proof of true godliness and not the spoof of "respectable wordliness". Spend time at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:39-40).
The Rich Fool gathered only for himself, for the here and now, for his own comfort and indulgence. He didn't think of his soul or things of God. He was respectable in working for his food but he lived blithely, not thinking about God and what God required of him. It was like he'd gained the world but lost his soul (Luke 12:15-21).
I know that believers, once saved, cannot be lost again. However, the relationship with God is broken unless there is repentance. We have moved away from God, not He from us. Repentance is the key that brings us back because God forgives through Jesus. Always keep this in mind (1 John 1:9).
I can hear and feel Paul's sadness over Demas who'd forsaken him. In actual fact, Demas had forsaken the Lord as he loved the world better. The temporary pleasures of this world lured him away. Being with Paul and company had given Demas respectability by association but the truth came out in the pudding eventually and off Demas went to Thessalonica (2 Timothy 4:12).
It's a bit depressing to think of all these, but praise the Lord, there are prime examples of those who had been tempted by worldly lures, which were respectable enough but they had the faith in God to reject and refuse them. It's something like Paul counting all his upbringing's priviledges for loss. All his prestigious education and standing in Jewish top-notch Pharisaical society, exchanged for taking up his cross and following Jesus. Paul's was a heavy cross indeed.
You gotta just love Moses too! The riches and priviledges of being Pharoah's daughter's son: living in royal palace, great education, not having to work, well fed, and so on. He never forgot to whom he truly belonged - the Hebrews and most importantly, to God. Moses forsook earthly riches in order to be rich towards God as his first heart-felt priority. Yes, he went through some stuff to get to this place but his heart was sincere. This is what matters in God's economy (Hebrews 11:24-27).
Dear Daniel was another such chap. He did not succumb to the tempting food and drink, nor to the fear of man (i.e. the king's potential fury). The food was not kosher and Daniel and his three friends feared God. Thank God for their courage. May each of us brothers and sisters-in-Christ find our strength and fortitude in our Lord and Master should we face similar circumstances as did Daniel and friends. Let us be respectable to God, first and foremost before thinking about to mankind (Daniel 1:8-21).
Now we come to our day and age, to introspection of our own souls and life modus operandi. Which areas of our lives fit into the pattern of worldliness that can be respectable enough - even honorable but is just that - characterized by worldliness? It's a good question for each of us to reflect upon and take necessary action as needed to seek better things as did Mary, then sit and learn at Jesus' feet, having right action stemming from a right heart.
Let's see this from kind of a reverse angle. One that dogged my footsteps from childhood up and perhaps has even infected and affected many others who grew up similarly in a very devout Christian family. Let me expound...
We are told not to be a stumbling block to other believers, those who may not know or understand the Scriptures as well as you do or whose expectations of what a Christian should or should not do, which in turn could lead them astray and away from Christ. Truly, we would not like for our freedom in Christ to give license to others to indulge or over indulge in activities, that in moderation are "harmless," like drinking A glass of wine. Did you get that? A glass, for instance, that could overflow to out-of-control in someone else.
It is good and right that we, as believers in Christ, practise caution when we restrict ourselves for the benefit of others. We need to be careful that this doesn't become more outward performance to avoid criticism of ourselves or to garner praise upon us, that our actions aren't spurred on by the temporary. We need to have sincerity of heart and be steered by the motivation of pleasing the Lord, making our behavior reflect "in Jesus' name" for people to give praise to God and not man. Let it not just be lip-service from us because of fear of man, thus becoming ritualistic and legalistic in our bearing, producing a 'fake' Christian.
Here's an example about the harmless hanging up of washing on the clothesline on a Lord's Day. Actually, not even clothing but a plastic bag that was washed in order to be reused. Yeah, this is nitty-gritty; BUT...
Living in a small fishing village where everyone knows everyone else's business and yes, even 'degree' of Christianity' - or at least think they know. Many of these citizens termed themselves Christians and believed work should not be done on a Sunday; that is, rules especially for those who are well-known to be 'religious' people of the Bible.
That labeled my family. My Dad was a preacher and teacher of God's Word. Yup! His family members were strictly warned NOT to hang anything out there on that clothesline on a Lord's Day. We lived along the main drag in plain view of that clothesline. Well, we lived in plain view, period! Full-stop. Passersby got full benefit of sight.
My siblings and I were still young and it was impressed upon our young minds NOT to be a stumbling block for anyone, especially the villagers. We must not cause anyone of them to sin.
This was well-intentioned and good albeit not balanced since it generated legality, fear of man and outward respectability. There was not action stemming from inner heart conviction, and doing these 'for Jesus' nor out of a relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. These developed a sort of reverse avenue for arriving at respectable worldliness.
On the other hand, living in a country that operated in a bubble of mesmerizing affluence, which activated materialistic tendencies to blossom, proved equally detrimental to authentic Christian living. One could fool oneself in such a situation, to believe he or she is "living by faith," and following God's ways. However, that cancer of love for money and what it can bring one, can easily develop and lure the unsuspecting, subltly away from living by faith, thereby cooling ones love for Christ.
The Christian becomes more of an empty shell, living only for oneself while putting on and maintaining that "respectable worldly" front. Sad footage indeed, and followers of Jesus Christ must guard against such trends evolving in their walk with Christ.
Don't get me wrong - God blesses many believers with greater wealth and it doesn't mean they fall into the trap of "respectable worldliness". No, I know of some couples who use their wealth, unselfishly helping others. God knows their hearts, and helps them to help others. It's just imperative to be aware of what could transpire when one is not "on guard."
From this, perhaps you can see that "respectable worldliness" can be more dangerous and cause more harm than outright immoral and other ungoldly behavior. It is subtle, a sham, deceitful and lulls one into complacency and believing one is 'ok'. It may even be that an individual is not the Lord's, not saved.
One has gone through loops of memorizing Scripture, going to church, serving, help out at the soup kitchens and more, thinking, "I've done so much good - God will take me to heaven." Thus, a person becomes immune and/or blinded to what it truly means to belong to Christ.
Not all hope is lost though. Hopefully, prayfully, there are brothers and sisters-in-Christ who are spiritual and realize what's going on. Whether another is saved or unsaved but living that "respectable worldliness" existence, pray that faithful family members of God come to the rescue and direct their 'siblings' and others to a more godly life in Christ and grow their relationship with Him towards spiritual existence and maturity.
We must "walk by faith" otherwise it is "impossible to please God." It is "by faith" (NOT works) we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:16; Ephesians 2:8).
The sham of good works minus faith, can shame when discovered for what it is, and it will also keep a person unsaved. The unsaved will not be with Christ at all and that is the terrible tragedy of "respectable worldliness."
Thankfully, there is remedy. When we train ourselves to look at things through God's eyes, walking in His light, which we can learn from by reading the Holy Scriptures that can make us wise to God's heart and understanding and listening to Holy Spirit guidance, we can experience, and come to appreciate, greater fellowship as we involve our hearts to be attuned to His and not just display outward show (1 John 1:5-6).
When we follow the Lord with our hearts and examine ourselves daily to see if our actions truly come from the heart or from the deceit of outward appearance and performance, it will aid us in avoiding and overcoming "respectable worldliness." It is good to keep in mind that God looks at the heart. Keep telling yourself that (1 Samuel 16:7).
Another form of assistance to be true to God and ourselves as a believer, is to remember that God is Sovereign. He is also omniscient and omnipotent and will help us to fear Him and walk in His ways as we ponder His attributes. This can build relationship and fellowship with Him, forming the bond from within the inner sanctums of our hearts as He touches ours with His love and care (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Think "transformation" rather than "conformation" and compromise - be that living sacrifice for Christ (Romans 12:1-2). We can seek transformation by asking the Lord to reveal to to us areas where we have conformed to the pattern of this world and the society of our times, in which one is immersed. Be it at work, school, or our neighborhood, pinpoint by measuring up to the beliefs and philosophies of worldly standards, to God's heavenly ones.
Ask the Lord to examine your hearts and minds, right there, along with you. Pause your reading here and now. Bow your head and ask Him to show you what needs to be uprooted, that prohibits your transformation to be more like Christ, and becoming more genuine in practicing your fatih in Christ and service for Him. Get real with Him.
May we each learn to live by faith and grace of the Son of God who love us and gave Himself for us. Live to please Him in all godliness and honesty.
Our hearts are deceptive so we NEED His help and the help of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Don't ignore His nudgings. We can even ask a trusted believer what they think about our Christian walk but humbly accept their assessment without anger, grudge or rancor. Thus, greater transformation is enabled.
Coupled with transformation is being able to give up what stands in the way, even if it is good things. The apostle Paul had lived an exemplary good-living respectable life. He gave up that outward show and called it "loss for Christ" and even 'garbage" because it was religious ritual.
We often cling to earthly things because truly - it is good to live respectably and help others. We feel they are of great benefit. Again, they probably are, but they don't come from pleasing God, rather it was for pleasing ourselves.
When the clinging gets into the way, blocking our geniune Christian living and faith, holding our spiritual progress at bay and back, we need to consider the cost of not letting go. Paul did.
Philippians 3:7-17 encourages us to give up that which does not count for heavenly gain. When we do, "righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith" (vs9), will begin to characterize us more. In so doing, our "respectable worldliness" will drop away and we will become more genuine jewels for Christ in our everyday living.
Along the lines of transformation, check out the associations of our friend groups even if they are Christian friends. If they are not interested in similar transformation, they could be holding you back, impeding your ever-increasing transformation.
We may have to give certain friendships up. Ask the Lord to reveal to you those who are calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart. Look for those who desire to be transformed by righteousness, faith, love and peace in fellowship together with Christ. We must act upon this too, otherwise we will continue to deceive ourselves and to live the "respectable worldliness" lifestyle. Seek out those of like faith and purity of heart. Follow Jesus (2 Timothy 2;22).
Let us give up those things that hinder our spiritual growth. Move forward then, setting your sights on higher things. One perfect goal is the sight of appearing with Christ in glory. This is strong motivation. Stopping and picturing this in our minds of what this amazing and marvelous event will be like. Breathtaking.
Focusing on this brings firm impetus to live our Christ life in the right way from genuine love of Christ and relationship with God our Heavenly Father through Him. Let us set our sights on this highest height, living only for Jesus with pure hearts and minds without pretense or ritual, serving and worshiping our Lord and Savior only. May our hearts be full and overflowing; leaving worldly pleasures behind even if they are 'respectable' in man's view.
Let us have God's approval and dignity. Let us enjoy and have joy in our God, our Savior and Creator.
What say you?
~ERC December 2022~
Based on a Bible study guide by Rob harbison, Moral Issues Facing The Church; Lesson 12 Respectable Worldliness.
Sing, We Joy in Our God and We sing of His Love.
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