What does "Avoid worldly things" mean to you?

[iamauthentic]

I posted a song on my facebook wall called "I don't want to miss a thing!", its a romance song. It was originally made by aerosmith. But this version was by a couple who sang it lovely (no guitars...etc).

My fiance didn't listen to it. She said "I don't want to listen to it if its worldly!". Which made me wonder if shes being to extreme. I notice some people try so hard to be good christians that they literally try to avoid everything they can. But in my view its impossible to avoid worldly things. This doesn't mean you don't try obviously. But where is the line between being safe and being extreme?

I watch the show Fringe. I own a Ipod Touch. I own Tron Legacy on Blurray....etc. Would God own/use this stuff? No. But I am ok with it. Its not my idol nor does it change who I am. Which to me is what worldly boils down to. So to me I am not being worldly. I have heard from those who try to avoid everything. And yet they are using a computer, own a cell phone, wear clothes, drive a car...etc. So it makes me notice as much as they avoid it, they still are worldly.

Its why I think people can go to far and not realize no matter how they try. You can't avoid 100% of worldly things. On a side note I wish I could come up with a way to talk to my fiance about this so she will understand.

i stopped reading after i read the last sentence of the bolded words. God has called us to go into the world just as Christ did. no where in the Bible does God ever say we should separate ourselves from the world. He says we are enemies of the world and it will hate us and we shouldn't be conformed to the world but we are called to go into it. That's kind the whole point as to why we are here. Always look to the life of Jesus. What did He do? what was His mission? He became flesh and came into this place and we are called to do the same. there is no such thing as being a good Christian and our goals should never be to become a "good christian". those are just words that fluff people up. all i know is that it is not Father's Will for us to separate ourselves from the world because that's exactly the opposite of what Jesus Christ did.

 

[Apple Harvester]

I posted a song on my facebook wall called "I don't want to miss a thing!", its a romance song. It was originally made by aerosmith. But this version was by a couple who sang it lovely (no guitars...etc).

My fiance didn't listen to it. She said "I don't want to listen to it if its worldly!". Which made me wonder if shes being to extreme. I notice some people try so hard to be good christians that they literally try to avoid everything they can. But in my view its impossible to avoid worldly things. This doesn't mean you don't try obviously. But where is the line between being safe and being extreme?

I watch the show Fringe. I own a Ipod Touch. I own Tron Legacy on Blurray....etc. Would God own/use this stuff? No. But I am ok with it. Its not my idol nor does it change who I am. Which to me is what worldly boils down to. So to me I am not being worldly. I have heard from those who try to avoid everything. And yet they are using a computer, own a cell phone, wear clothes, drive a car...etc. So it makes me notice as much as they avoid it, they still are worldly.

Its why I think people can go to far and not realize no matter how they try. You can't avoid 100% of worldly things. On a side note I wish I could come up with a way to talk to my fiance about this so she will understand.

In Colossians 3. Paul talks about more about worldly things that needs to be avoided. Meaning the indulgence of the flesh. Meaning of one, I do know. I did own few things that was important to me. But I ended up getting rid of it. Because I had pride in it. Because I owned it, and it was a prized possession. Not an idol, but it had value. I didn't hold it over God. But it turned my personality ugly.

Like for an example. If you bought a 2013' New Mustang, and you can afford it. Of course you would feel great of having it. It gives you dignity, and feel like your something. But later down the road, your actually feeling your indulgence of the flesh. You bought it because you want it, but not the purpose of why you bought it. You could bought a van, or a nice 4 door Sedan car. So, you can help support your family. But your pride, gets in the way and you bought something that doesn't make you happy later. Because you can't make it fit. You end up depressed, and those feelings of greatness that you bought that Mustang before hand. Is another addiction feeding off of you. So, you want to buy another object that makes you feel the same way.

It's like buying a fattening cake, it's great, yummy, and it tastes great with chocolate. But you gain weight, and you are not happy. Your depressed, and you wished you bought that salad for lunch instead.

That's what it means. You can't feed into to glutton type wants. Your fleshly natural. Just wants everything to feel alive!

So, with Christ, we can break away from that by living in the Spirit!

 

[hedrick]

In the NT, "flesh" is often used to refer to the unsaved aspect of human existence. Similarly, the "world" is contrasted to God's realm. These shouldn't be taken too literally. This doesn't mean that the body is evil, or that the world is. The citation of Col 2 is useful. But Gen 1 is probably the most basic: God created the world and our bodies and called them good. We are allowed to use anything in the world. We become "worldly" only when we forget that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and when we forget to thank God for what we have and see it as his gift.

It seems particularly weird when Christians pronounce certain things worldly but not others. Armizer is worried about video games, presumably because there are Christians that call them "worldly." But I don't see how they are any more worldly than watching TV, reading a book, or participating in sports. Any of these things can become an obsession, of course. Even doing your job can be an obsession, and get in the way of your obligation to your family and others.

The Gospels say that Jesus himself was criticized for being worldly, for his eating and drinking, particularly with "sinners."

 

[Apple Harvester]

Oops! I meant Colossians 3. I'm sorry, I should have looked is it up before stating. lol

Hedrick, yes your are right. Your right, there are many times that I go back to Genesis. To re-read what God did first. When I got trapped into legalism that the world and flesh was evil. I felt worthless to God, and gotten depressed for two weeks. I kept thinking, if God says flesh was evil, and the world was evil. Why did He make us? In the way that it was displeasing to Him. I was starting to feel detached from myself because of that verse that Apostle John wrote. I think that's when my health was going down south. I wanted to please God, and be righteous under His eyes. That's why legalism kills. It's too harsh to live up to. To be perfect. That's why we have God's grace. I'm feeling I'm leaving topic. lol

But Colossians 2 did have some areas, of which of the flesh being, died to the cross of earthly things too. As, well as the world is concerned we are died when we are baptized. An, raised with Him (Christ Jesus).

Jesus did say, that God so loved the world that He send His Son, to save it. From the workings of death. Through spirit, and to live eternity with Him. Because He loved us so much.

When Adam died spiritually, God tried to spare Adam and Eve's life by them living up to 900 years. He tried to save them from there transgression. But Adam died happy. As, the world progressed, the world left God's hands. They forgot about Him, and lived by there fleshly ways, and became wicked in violence, and corruption. That's when Noah's story came. After the world was done with being flooded over, God changed the world's order a little, and made a new covenant. But still man fell away from God after, by worshipping other false gods, like an object they think it's God.

Your flesh gets confused, when you don't have God, the true living God in your life. Since Adam's transgression happen. Our flesh is trying to make up what was lost. Making us hungry to find something that's missing.

I'm on to something, but it's still morning, and I'm not fully awake yet. I might have a full understanding later.

I'll leave at that for now. lol

 

[LoricaLady]

"Be careful when you think you stand lest you fall..."

"For this is the love of YHWH, that we keep His Commandments and His Commandments are not burdensome."

Of course there is nothing wrong with owning a computer or an ipod. Such things are neutral, like fire. It just depends on what you use them for. Some things are not neutral, like t.v. generally which very frequently promotes unrighteous behavior and glorifies it.

You have a conscience. You have the Bible. You have the Holy Spirit to guide you. What is unworldly is whatever leads to thoughts or actions that are against what your Heavenly Father has told you about how to lead your life. When in doubt, sincerely pray about it and you will be guided. Praying that is what will happen.