Love not the world

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good…


The world in our days is not a heathen world, as it was in the days of the apostle; but it is not a whit less "the world that lieth in wickedness." The outward developments are different, but the inward character, principles, and spirit are the very same: changing a few of the mere external circumstances, the apostle's description of the "world" of his own day is equally applicable to the "world" of ours. There are now, indeed, no idolatrous banquets, no savage gladiatorial conflicts in the blood-stained arena of the amphitheatre, no midnight orgies to some disgraceful deity. The world, perhaps, now, at least the world of the upper classes of society, is not quite so rough, but more polished in its sinfulness; but its scenes of amusement, its theatres, its luxurious tastes and habits, its nightly revels, and too lavish entertainments, partake as essentially of the elements of worldliness as the less advanced indulgences of a ruder age. In its thirst after wealth, in its restless strivings after fame and glory, in its grasping selfishness, in its love of splendour and show, we question whether the world, as it presents itself to the Christian of the nineteenth century wears any materially different aspect from that of the world of the apostle's days. But, when we speak of worldliness, either as it is developed in business or pleasure, let it not be for a moment supposed that worldliness exists only in these developments: these are only indices or marks of an inward and rooted principle, innate in every man born into this world, and dominant in every man, without exception, who has not been "born again of water and of the Spirit."

(W. H. Etchers, M.A.)