It has come to my attention that God intends to use this series on Christianly thinking to address the Christian’s second most deadly enemy: the world. A few passages come immediately to mind:
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19
Jesus assumes His disciples are no longer of the world because He chose them out of it.
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. John 17:15-16
Being “not of” does not mean “out of.” The world is where we live, but the kingdom of heaven is to be our home.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Paul warned that the world would attempt to conforms us to its ways, ways contrary to the will of God. His way for our defense is the Holy Spirit’s work of transformation by the renewing of our mind.
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
The Lord Jesus Christ, by His crucifixion, stands between His disciples and the world. Why then are we so easily influenced by the world’s philosophies, systems, and values? The answer is a solemn and humbly one: We allow it.
An Enemy Lies Within (Streetman, 2020) identified the carnal mind as Enemy #1 for good reason. Our carnal mind exists closest to us, almost at the center of our being. When allowed, it serves as the “doorman” who allows the entry of worldly and Satanic influences into our thinking. As new creatures in Christ, we are responsible for the influence we allow our carnal mind to have, including the distractions, deceptions, and discouragements of the world.
The world – its philosophies, systems, and values – exist in the second closest sphere of influence. Consequently, it has the most influence on our carnal and subconscious mind. Furthermore, without the world’s agency, Satan would be powerless against the resisting Christian.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Hopefully, you have read An Enemy Lies Within and have begun following the ways God has given to deal with our carnal mind (e.g., the process of faith and its disciplines). As we step out from under the carnal mind’s influence, we can more effectively deal with our conformity with the world.
A warning: If you think yourself unconformed to the world, you should certainly think again – particularly if you are a product of the Western education system, or have been encouraged to pursue the “American Dream” (i.e., progressive generational accumulation of position, status, and wealth). The deception has been going on for decades, and it runs deep in our subconscious minds.
In last week’s article, we introduced the notion of Kiaros – the right or opportune moment or the appointed time in the purpose of God (merriam-webster.com) – and how Kiaros moments can be recognized and understood within the biblical patterns of God’s relationship with His people. Narratives like the exodus of God’s people from Egypt to the Promised Land contain several Kiaros moments, as do Jesus’ parables. We will continue to leverage these for our edification and encouragement.
Egyptian Refuge or Babylonian Exile
One of the questions we should address in this study is, “How did we get here?” Looking back at our faults and failings is not an enjoyable exercise, but necessary for a few reasons:
- To avoid repeating the past (e.g., making idols of worldly ideals and/or idealogues).
- To discern what we should leave behind (e.g., worldly thought patterns).
- To grieve the loss of familiar places and agents (e.g., institutions and people who reject our decision to strike off in a new direction).
So, I have been trying to understand which biblical pattern best matches our current situation. Just what is the genesis of our story? Are we slaves of Egypt or Babylon?
You may recall, the family of Israel (aka, Jacob) came to Egypt to escape famine. God had sent Joseph ahead, in a very strange but providential way, to provide for the safety and security of His chosen people. The story of Joseph’s life provides a great pattern for the transformation of an individual (and group): Dream leading to chaos; the testing and humbling of chaos for preparation; God’s timing in the work; all culminating in God’s good work through His now prepared instrument.
I suspect we will explore the pattern of Joseph’s life in a future article – along with David and Esther – when we come to the transformation phase of our journey. But, the story of Israel’s entry into Egypt – How we got here – does not line up with the story of our captivity.
The more I prayerfully consider the matter of our captivity, the more convinced I become that our story aligns best with the Babylonian exile. We have not found ourselves in slavery through a salvation pattern, but through one of punishment. Like the Israelites of Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s day, God’s people in the West, during the 20th and 21st Centuries, have run after the things of this world. We have become as much “of the world” as we are “in the world.”
This is a critically important point: Before the church in the West began conforming to the world, it desired to do so. This reminds me of two related patterns:
Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden – So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate (Genesis 3:6).
Israel’s desire for a king – Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles (1Samuel 8:19-20).”
Both Eve and the elders of Israel gave thought to the temptations of Satan and the world, respectively. Those thoughts led to desire, and desire to self-harm. The similarities are sobering; clearly mankind has a bent toward self-rule and self-sufficiency – to hallmarks of the Enlightenment, the beginnings of the mess we are in.
This seems like a good place to stop. To be honest, I need to search out the matter of Babylonian exile a bit more before commenting further. I hope you will join me.
In the meantime (and the good Lord willing), I plan to share from Harry Blamires’ book, The Christian Mind – going deeper into each of the six “Marks of the Christian Mind”. You can find a short overview in the series introduction from a couple of weeks ago (and in An Enemy Lies Within). We may also share some examples of the contrast between worldly and Christianly thinking.
In closing, be encouraged that the journey from conformity to transformation begins with a desire and a choice. God has taken it upon Himself to include the desire for transformation in the new heart He gave us with our redemption (Ezekiel 36:26). He has promised to give us the desires of our heart as we surrender to Him (Psalm 37:4). He is working in us to will and to do to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
The choice is up to us.
God bless you with wisdom to make the right decision, and encouragement for the journey.
Have a strong day in the Lord,
Rob
#iamjustthepen
Blamires, H. (1963). The Christian Mind. Regent College Publishing; Vancouver, BC.
Streetman, R. (2020). An Enemy Lies Within. Archdeacon Books; Hoover, AL.