What’s the Christian’s Relationship with the World supposed to be like?

        Is it even worth it to be a Christian? For one, it isn’t easy to live for Christ in a world that doesn’t like Christ. Wouldn’t it be easier to just live a life of ease and enjoy the comforts of life like everyone else does? Why deny yourself and your own life while others are enjoying theirs? 

        Paul said, “If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we, Christians, deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world” (1 Cor 15:19). Paul was no dummy as far as the world is concerned. He was highly educated and had just about every degree from Bible Colleges than anyone could have in those days. And then he said, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Phil 3:7-8). 

        Why count it all worthless and forsake it all? Because of what Jesus said “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?“ (Mat 16:26). Some people trade their souls for worldly things, like money, fame, good looks and materialism. The apostle John was quite adamant about this. He said, “do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1Jn 2:15 ).

        Jesus had a lot to say about compromise. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mk 8:38). 

        We have to make a choice, whether to stay true and be all-in for the message and doctrine of Jesus, and preaching it and practicing it, or else choose safety, comfort, convenience, compromise, peace and support. Jesus said, “wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Mt 7:13).

        It is important that people know what we stand for; it is equally important that they know what we won’t stand for. He who tolerates evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. Everything in life has a price tag. Anytime we say Yes to something, we’re saying No to something else. 

        Is the prize of your soul worth the price of following Christ? Compromise may be one of the greatest challenges for Christians. The most uncomfortable place for a Christian is a comfortable one. Why? Because the idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

        We must always watch out about any compromise or pulling our punches for advantage, for popularity or for finances, for protection, for safety, for anything. Thomas Carlyle said “conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct“.

        Real, meaningful success isn’t based on what you accumulate, or your appearance, or feeling good. Real success comes from living your life by real values; by God’s values for which we were created. The apostle Paul realized that no status, no amount of money, no fame nor fortune, no earthly pleasure is worth more than Jesus. 

        Once we are born again we become a part of the Kingdom of light, and we are no longer a part of the kingdom of darkness (Col 1:12-13). So why should we desire again “fellowship with the works of darkness”? There should be quite a few very noticeable changes in our lives and a change of interest. Paul said, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1Cor 10:21).

        The more we study and meditate on the Word of God, the more He changes our habits, our desires, our goals, and even those we fellowship with. Certain former pleasures, acquaintances and even former habits are no longer appealing. This is why we vehemently discipline ourselves to renew our minds and actions to be in accordance with our new life and identity in Christ. 

        It may be a constant exercise to discipline our mind, but the freedom you get from it is awesome. Paul said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph 5:11).

        We’re in a war for the souls of men. We’re in a different kingdom than that of the world. Paul said, “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2Tim 2:4)

        Christians have to take a stance. It’s not like you can commit yourself to God and then, still live like the worldly folks, or hunger after the things of the world. There’s a price to pay. We can’t have it both ways. James said, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jam 4:4).

Let’s fight to remain separate.