Worldliness

Mahaney writes, “Today, the greatest challenge facing American evangelicals is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world.” (Worldliness, 22)  C. J. Mahaney (author of the Humility book we worked through in small group last year) and some others from Sovereign Grace Ministries released a book several months ago called Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. The book’s purpose is simple, it is a call to pay attention to the warning of Scripture concerning worldliness. In particular, the Scripture that is discussed is 1 John 2:15-17:

“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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (ESV)

From this text, the following simple definition of worldliness is formed: Worldliness is a love for this fallen world. This love, is to the exclusion of God.

Over the next few days it is my intention to make several posts through this book. These posts will in no way take the place of the value that you will get from reading the book, they are intended as a means to get you into the discussion and thinking about these things. These are the issues that are addressed in the book: Media, Music, Stuff, and Clothes. There is then a chapter which describes the way in which we are actually to love the world.

You can purchase the book here.

Why this is important for you!

I know what you may be thinking, a discussion on worldliness sounds like it will be a legalistic one, full of “don’t do this” and “don’t do that”. However, that response and that focus on externals is precisely the problem, and something that can cause us to be dull to worldliness, until it is too late and we have been seduced by the world. Mahaney makes this point clear, and this is why this is so important for us, “[worldliness] exists in our hearts. Worldliness does not consist in outward behavior, though our outward actions can certainly be an evidence of worldliness within. But the real location of worldliness is internal. It resides in our hearts.” Worldliness is so important because it is not simply about what you do, but what you love. And when we love ourselves or something above God, then we worship idols and we don’t worship Him.

So I hope that you will follow these posts. Increasing in our love for God and decreasing in our love for the fallen world will honor God in Trinity Church. So I hope that you will join the discussion, and encourage your brothers and sisters to battle worldliness to the glory of God.

Men and Missions

Here is a challenging call for men to plug into global missions. The research done in the Southern Baptist Convention shows that the number of young women entering missions greatly exceeds the number of young men. Here is a quote that sums up the article, “Gentlemen, what are we not doing to inspire our sons and grandsons to dream of doing something great for Jesus?”

How Much TV Do You Watch?

Here is an article by John Piper talking about why he doesn’t have a television.

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

If you are in our Community Training class on Biblical manhood and womanhood, here is the link that I mentioned on Sunday where you can read the book online. You can also purchase the book at that link for just under $16.  If you are not in the class, feel free to jump in. We would love to have you. We meet Sunday mornings at 9:30. Click here for more info.

The Gift of Exercise

(I thought this would be useful to re-post in light of the new “MUMs” group at Trinity. I also ran today for the first time in a while, so my mind went to this subject of endurance.)

There is great value to physical exercise for Christians. I have heard these arguments before about taking care of you body, and the advantages to exercise, and while those things are true there is one lesson that I have been learning that I think should be highlighted. Physical exercise trains us in the concept of endurance. If you have set out to run a mile, and you get half way through and you don’t feel like you can make it, all of the sudden you are in an endurance situation. What are you going to do? Start walking? Take a break? Push through?

We talk a lot about Spiritual endurance as a church. We take Jesus’ words seriously, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). We also talk about enduring trials and difficulties. We know that all who live Godly will experience difficulties. We know that we are not promised a “bed of roses” Christian experience. This world is fallen, and it is filled with sin which makes being a Christian very difficult. Things are constantly coming into your life that are testing your endurance. Are you enduring with joy?

Physical exercise is a means through which we can learn how to endure difficulty. Physical exercise is a picture of your Spiritual life. If you are like me, in the middle of exercising your minds fills up with thoughts that are saying that it is no big deal if I quit. “No one really cares if I finish this run or not.” I am not saying that you need to finish a 20 minute run in order to go to heaven. I am saying that through physical exercise you can build a mentality and pattern of endurance in your life. If you quit in all the other areas of your life, what would make you think that you will be able to endure in your Christian life? Enduring in physical exercise builds a mentality of endurance through difficulty and pain. I think this can be used as we seek to become people that are characterized by endurance, not just physical endurance, but also Spiritual.

There are obvious other benefits to exercise, but I just want to challenge you to be a person that is seeking to endure comprehensively. Physical exercise is God’s gift to us that teaches us how endure. Let’s use this gift to train in endurance, and glorify God.

Prosperity Gospel and ESPN

ESPN talks about the prosperity gospel! The piece talks about how prosperity gospel preachers can target big name athletes for financial purposes. This is a very interesting piece. Click here to check out the video.

Manhood and Womanhood

This Sunday we will be concluding our series on the family with a look at marriage as defined by the Bible. What roles are appropriate for husbands and wives? What is the Christian marriage to look like?

In conjunction with this, we will also begin a new study during our community training time (9:30 on Sunday Mornings). For the summer we will be looking at Biblical Manhood and Womanhood during this time. We will look at all the tough passages that deal with the roles and responsibilities for men and women. If you are not currently involved in Community Training, I hope that you will jump in on this important topic.

Chick-Flicks and the Glory of God

I ran across this very interesting article called, “You’ve Got Lies: Chick Flicks and the World’s Approach to Men and Marriage“. Beth Spraul writes this article and she considers why these movies have such an effect on women, even after watching them multiple times. She suggests that this is because these movies strike an emotional nerve with women. She then goes on to examine why that is, and if that is good thing. Check it out.

Anger

David Powlison answers the question, “Is anger morally neutral?”

For the Kids…

Check out this upcoming release from Sovereign Grace Music. It is their second children’s album. Our whole family really enjoys their first children’s album, “Awesome God”. Click here to check out their first recording. (Be sure to check out the video at that bottom of that page.)