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The Love of the World: A Meditation on 1 John 2: 15-16

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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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2: 15-16

Some Christians might read the passage above and think this does not refer to them. I am not so arrogant, primarily because I’m constantly humbled. People may be more prone to certain sins than others, but does that mean we should think: Oh, I would never fall into this or that. The Bible tells us haughtiness comes before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Satan is ruled by pride and knows this is our nature (Isaiah 14:12-15). He likes to use our weaknesses, which could involve an area we feel we are strong in. We don’t have our Spiritual guard up in these areas; satan and his minions come around, twist sin, and seek carnal relations.

Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27

Many seek to acquire or partake in some things the world offers, but how does one know if he or she loves the things of the world or not? Desire? Well, we know our desires should be God-led, but there are hidden ways we commit spiritual adultery that are hard to discern.

We are not to love the world or the things in it. Our desire is to please God in everything we do.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31

We do this because we Love God (Matthew 22:36-40). God is Love. Christians are supposed to be ruled by Love.  Throughout the Bible, we learn what true Love is and how it is practiced in our lives. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:21

So, we indulge in worldliness if what we are reaching for, doing, or achieving does not align with the God we love. We can’t love sin and God at the same time. It’s either one or the other. (Matthew 6:24) The Word and Holy Spirit should lead our lives.

Someone once said I was crazy for trying to seek out God in all areas of my life, such as business and finances. Truth is, it is my love for Christ that allows this to happen naturally. I don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), so I seek out Biblical wisdom. This helps me live in the world yet not fall into its seductive traps. As I keep Him first place in my life, the Lord helps me continually filter what I should participate in, do, reach for, and even buy.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(Romans 8:28)

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22)

Loving the world means you are also participating in fleshly masturbation; you are pleasing yourself, which is a bad form of self-love.

….For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

For pride of life, we see pride in what we have and those who cling to their life instead of Christ (Luke 17:33). Lust of the flesh and eyes connects to what you don’t have; you crave it. People often buy things they don’t need. They covet other people’s possessions and their husbands or wives. This world is ruled by this.

Our flesh and satan constantly attempts to seduce us so that we forget about God. This seduction is done in many ways, such as enticing worldly offerings.

What is your desire? What is truly ruling you? Yes, we may fall, but we strive not to.

Here are questions for reflection:

Am I seeking the glory of man or the glory of God? (John 5:42–44)

Am I simply reaching for this job because it makes a lot of money or will give me worldly praise?

Will God guide us to be entertained by sin? Which is glorified in many secular films, theater, music, or books.

Do you never see a struggle between your wants and God’s desires?

Perhaps when you go to the store you think: I need to pick up some things. While I’m out, maybe God will open an opportunity to share my faith. Or, do you always have the longing desire and hope of sharing your faith with someone, and, of course, you need to pick up a few things.

What do you put above God? Is it your children? Comfort? Money? Conspiracy theories? Fashion? Politics? Sports?

These kinds of reflections can help us go deeper to unearth hidden love for the world and the flesh that we cannot always see so easily. In 1 John 5:4, we see that it is our faith that helps us overcome worldliness. As we grow in love, our faith is strengthened.

Love,

The Hallowed Noose and the Hanging of the Fatherless

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What I am going to share comes from an honest place and not a combative place, though I have been told that I am argumentative by people like my wife (Kym) who is pretty chill.

For this piece, I want to talk about some Christians’ persistence in making unbelievers hateful people and why their worldly actions are criticized.

Christian Films Seem Unloving

I am not blind to how secular movies portray Christians at times. I know that some of the religious characters in films or shows are seen as villains or crazy people. This is not to say that I have not seen a few good Christian characters.

Still, can you blame the filmmakers who do this? They are only showing their perspective.

When I met my wife, she began to expose me to old and new religious films. We noticed issues with modern films that would take lectures to explore, but one thing I want to touch on deals with the way unbelievers, especially atheists, are sometimes portrayed in modern Christian films.

Some of these movies are meant to reach people like me, but what I end up feeling is alienated. What I see on screen is Christians hanging the fatherless.

I assume the idea is to show people that being a non-believer makes you a hateful person? No matter how much I want to avoid the hateful characterization of unbelievers in these works, I am a part of this group.

I guess I’m wondering where is the loving Christian who is supposed to feel sorry for me rather than make me some horrible person? How am I to believe you are hoping for my salvation if you see me as such a hateful person?

…More, Please!

Healing Art: My Moon Reflections

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moon symbolism

Beautiful Reflection

The moon stands in the sky. It is night. All is quiet, she is quiet. She shares the light of the sun and transmutes it into a soft, cool pool of light upon which we can gaze. She does not resent the fact that her light is not her own. And we do not look down on her for it, but upwards in awe.
Like Eve, formed from the bone of Adam, the moon is the sun’s counterpart as night is to day- a cycle complete. Before our eyes, she shifts and changes to a rhythmical dance as old as time. We are her daughters, following her patterns and dancing with her. In a circle. A place of belonging. Under that shared light. Drinking in the ancient song. –Lauren O.

An old man once told me, “Think of something that fills you with wonder. Maybe it’s a flower blooming, the sunrise, a child’s laughter… Now ask yourself, could you commit to observing this thing every day? Try it, and see how it deepens your spirituality.”

For me, it was the moon that had captured my intrigue. My sister and I were taking a walk one night and beheld an incredible moonbow. At the time, I didn’t know there was such a thing. I can only describe it as magical and it was very special getting to share that moment with my sister.

Around that time I was also learning just how intimately women are connected to and governed by the moon. Before modern electricity, all women ovulated at the full moon and bled at the new (dark) moon.

I took up the nightly ritual of moon gazing, and what that man said was true for me. As I watched her follow after the sun across the sky each evening, I perceived my spirituality deepening and these words are what I drew up from that moonbeam-infused well.

And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Corinthians 3:18

When I read this verse after starting this ritual, I immediately connected it to the moon’s symbolism which I was coming to understand.

The moon is like a mirror. It reflects the sun’s light, just as we, the Church, should reflect the light of the Son. The monthly waxing of the moon is a recurring reminder that as the Spirit works in us, we reflect His glory more and more. I can only think it is a recurring reminder for a reason! At times, like the moon, we turn away from the source of Light and no longer shine. He is ever asking us to return to Him.

…More, Please!