Worldly Ways

by Brandy Webb

Why are Christians so quick to judge the world? Why do some become even hateful towards the world? Don’t we realize that we are not perfect either, and that all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)? Seriously, right now the world is ruled by Satan (1 John 5:19). It is not ever going to be a righteous place until God’s Kingdom overthrows the current ruler. Therefore, the world will do only what the world knows.

I do not think that it is healthy for us to get so wrapped up in what the world does. It is not our job to throw stones at the world. I know that Paul states that the saints will judge the world (1 Cor 6:2), but He is referring to the time when God’s Kingdom has been established. Right now, it isn’t our job to judge the world, but it is our job to judge sin within God’s ecclesia (1 Cor 5:12). “God will judge those outside” (1 Cor 5:13).

Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t speak against sin. We are to teach the truth, but we are to do it “in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1). Knowing that apart from Christ we are nothing (John 15:5).

The thing is, I have noticed that a lot of Christians have become very fearful because of the world’s ways, and they react in this fear rather than with love and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). I think we may need to refocus our vision. I believe that right now our job should be to make sure that our eyes stay clear and bright because in the end the only person we have to answer for is ourselves.

We are to live in this world in such a way that our good works will cause the world to “glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pet 2:12). We are told to be subject “to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Pet 2:13), “for this is the will of God, that by well-doing [we] should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Pet 2:14). We are to be ambassadors of Christ, following in His footsteps, walking the way He walked. Remember, “when He was cursed,” He did not curse back (1 Pet 2:23a). When He suffered, he did not threaten His attackers (1 Pet 2:23b). In fact, He asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34).

I believe that we should first clean our own house before casting judgment on others. I believe we need to pray and ask God to help us first remove the planks in our own eyes, so that we don’t look and act like hypocrites (Matt 7:3-5). We are the light of the world (Matt 5:14) because of His Spirit within us. We need to make sure our lights are bright so that others will see it and come out of the darkness. But we need to remember, lights are fragile—if you hit someone with a light, it will break.