Loving the Lord, not the world

[OhFarouk]

As much as I'm strongly hostile to legalism, and to attempts to police other people's subjective likes and dislikes, this is also a very good verse to remember, reminding the believer in the Lord Jesus of the need to keep a heart-felt focus on Him:

"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." 1 John 2.15

 

[ravindran_eee]

I have a question on this.. Now let's take one simple example.. Let's assume I am a big fan or ice cream.. I crave for ice creams.. everytime I see it, I just want to eat it.. This is a very simple example.. in reality, i feel like that for electronic gadgets!! But for some it could be on cars..

How does that relate to this verse? Are we supposed to not have desires for anything in the world including these things?

 

[OhFarouk]

I have a question on this.. Now let's take one simple example.. Let's assume I am a big fan or ice cream.. I crave for ice creams.. everytime I see it, I just want to eat it.. This is a very simple example.. in reality, i feel like that for electronic gadgets!! But for some it could be on cars..

How does that relate to this verse? Are we supposed to not have desires for anything in the world including these things?

It's a question of emphasis; of moderation versus obsession.

If our desires are towards God, then the things of this world should not become our priority.

We all have different tastes, and to a large extent these are legitimate, but they should not run to excess.

 

[4crunburg]

"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." 1 John 2.15
In that verse John is talking, not God. In the world that I live in which is the world Our Lord created for us, He left room for us to love ourselves, our neighbors and the world around us. Believe me He left room for us to love it all and not have to choose from one to another.
And just as John was voicing his views I voice my right here as one human being to another

 

[OhFarouk]

"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." 1 John 2.15
In that verse John is talking, not God. In the world that I live in which is the world Our Lord created for us, He left room for us to love ourselves, our neighbors and the world around us. Believe me He left room for us to love it all and not have to choose from one to another.
And just as John was voicing his views I voice my right here as one human being to another

But you and I, unlike John here, are not voicing our views under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The world and the Lord are at enmity. The Cross is the only solution.

 

[4crunburg]

But you and I, unlike John here, are not voicing our views under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit..

you may speak for yourself but you cannot read my mind or speak for me on this issue or any of the sort. I am inspired by the Holy Spirit.

[quote="OhFarouk]The world and the Lord are at enmity. The Cross is the only solution...[/quote]

Enmity is the same as hostility and I see no hostility between the world and the Lord or Jesus for that matter. You and I just don't see eye to eye on this but do not let this divide us. I am your friend and I wish you and yours a great day and beyond. And I say this with my heart and soul.

 

[4crunburg]

Moderator note: Let's keep this on track and not let the thread deteriorate into bickering members. Different views of members members are to tolerated with respect whether they are right or wrong. These are personal issues between the believer and the Lord. We are to discuss with brotherly love towards one another. I thank you for your cooperation in this.

Edward, is this a warning and if so please be more specific in your warning. What have I done wrong?

 

[reba]

Edward, is this a warning and if so please be more specific in your warning. What have I done wrong?

It is your responsibility s a member to read and abide by the ToS
1.3: If you feel that any action taken was unfair, it can be appealed. To appeal an action taken against you by CF.net staff, you are advised to start a new thread in the ‘Talk With the Staff’ forum area. Threads in this forum are viewable only by the person initiating the thread and CF.net staff. In this private venue, anyone on the CF.net staff may respond, and the OP can address his/her concerns with regard to the action taken. This forum is intended only for appeals to actions by CF.net staff. TWTS area may also be used, according to Staff discretion, for other expedient purpose of communication. If a member disagrees with a Moderator's action, they are not to take their dispute public.

Reba Super Moderator

 

[4crunburg]

Amen (:-

 

[OhFarouk]

In Galatians 6:14 Paul says that by the Cross, in which he glories, he is crucified to the world and the world to him.

So, no, I'm not interested in policing other people's subjective art forms, musical styles, personal preferences, etc.

But the underlying spiritual reality between the believer and the world is that through the Cross of Christ they have become completely opposed. It's good to reflect on this sometimes.

Blessings.

 

[Rick W]

Post deleted by Gnostic Christian Bishop

I'm going to put this thread on hold for a while.

 

[Rick W]

Ok, open for discussion. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[tandemcpl]

Good post, Farouk,

Not only did John teach about the dangers of loving the world, but this was something that was prominent in Paul’s and James’ teaching also. I really like what James, the brother of Jesus, had to say about the subject.

James said:

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:4-10, ESV)

Be blessed.

Toby

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

"And do not be conformed to this world, but by transformed by the renewing of your mind." Rom. 12:2 Do we know what this actually means? If we did we would not worry about a lot of things other people do but just love them for who they are and want them to become better people in the Lord.

 

[OhFarouk]

"And do not be conformed to this world, but by transformed by the renewing of your mind." Rom. 12:2 Do we know what this actually means? If we did we would not worry about a lot of things other people do but just love them for who they are and want them to become better people in the Lord.

Ms Sandy: We need to keep 'looking unto Jesus' (Hebrews 12), rather than busybodying about other people's likes and dislikes.

Blessings.

 

[OhFarouk]

There is a lot of wisdom in the short post. We should worry more about our self and our walk than others. We are not to be judgmental, and to remove the plank from our own eye before attempting to "help" another.

I believe that the renewing of the mind is a process done over time. It is not something that the Lord gives you all at once and Bam, you're renewed. The Lord does do it, but we are not a non-participant in it's process. Renewing and sanctification of us gives us a responsibility to (Read & study the Word) to educate ourselves, we must feed and exercise our spirit to grow. We have to give God something to work with. This is how it seems to be working with me, and when I do my part, I can feel my self growing. When I slack off, I can feel myself weakening.

Yes, the Word of God - and prayer - must be central.

Blessings.

 

[gr8grace]

As much as I'm strongly hostile to legalism, and to attempts to police other people's subjective likes and dislikes, this is also a very good verse to remember, reminding the believer in the Lord Jesus of the need to keep a heart-felt focus on Him:

"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." 1 John 2.15

John is speaking about the "cosmic SYSTEM" and the things of that SYSTEM. This is what the cosmic System(world) is.

1) Cosmic one: Cosmic one is Satan’s exploitation of believers through their own arrogance. This is his means of influencing the human race. Satan is the author of arrogance, for arrogance was his original sin.

2) Cosmic two: Cosmic two is Satan’s propaganda and indoctrination that educates and promotes antagonism toward anything related to God, especially the grace of God.

Its not the "physical" things of this world John Is speaking of. It is the "way of thinking" in this world, its problem solving ideas,Its ways to "make things better" or worse for that matter.

Its this worlds "mind set" and "mental attitude" that we are not to get involved with. We can FULLY enjoy football if we want. We can FULLY enjoy using a electronic gadget if we want. We can even FULLY enjoy a heavy bodied merlot!

 

[OhFarouk]

Its not the "physical" things of this world John Is speaking of. It is the "way of thinking" in this world, its problem solving ideas,Its ways to "make things better" or worse for that matter.

This is primarily the case, yes, in the sense that always the moral and spiritual underpinning of things is paramount. Physical things may be involved, though, in a derivative sense.

Blessings.

 

[gr8grace]

This is primarily the case, yes, in the sense that always the moral and spiritual underpinning of things is paramount. Physical things may be involved, though, in a derivative sense.

Blessings.

I agree.

 

[Tom H]

I agree.

Chafer, Systematic Theology:
The cosmos is a vast order or system that Satan has promoted, which conforms to his ideals, aims, and methods. It is civilization now functioning apart from God--a civilization in which none of its promoters really expect God to share, who assign to God no consideration in respect to their projects; nor do they ascribe any causativity to Him. This system embraces its godless governments, conflicts, armaments, jealousies, its education, culture, religions of morality, and pride. It is that sphere in which man lives. It is what he sees, what he employs. To the uncounted multitude it is all they ever know so long as they live on this earth. It is properly styled a satanic system, which phrase is in many instances a justified interpretation of the so-meaningful word, cosmos. It is literally a cosmos diabolicus.

... Satan's major play through history is to get the believer to live independently of God. Basically, a believer can't "value" the satanic system and "value" the Father at the same time.

We can use the system appropriately, or we can value (love) the system and depend on it instead of God. Satan is the god of this present evil age (Galatians 1) and he is the ruler of this world (cosmos) system (Jn 14:30). We're not to love the present age (2 Tim 4:10) and we're not to love the world system (as noted in the verse that started the thread). The believer can live within the world system and also have victory within the world system ("stop loving it") so as not to use the world system inappropriately. A believer can learn about the elements of the system from the Bible (for example: modern education, music, art, Godless governments, senseless warfare, etc.) so he can relate to the world system properly and identify its dangers. John wrote to the 'young men' - the ones who already understood how to deal with their sin natures (sin nature antidote found in Romans 6) and deal with the satanic attack (satanic attack antidote found in Ephesians 6) ... John implored these ones to "stop" loving (valuing) the world system... cool stuff.