Yesterday, in reflecting on kingdom — nearly ten years after I wrote a book about it — I mentioned the need for a fresh and an organic approach to worldliness. I grew up in fundamentalism and we heard lots about the world. It mostly meant not joining in on the trends of the day, like drinking and dancing and Elvis and The Beatles. It was an early form of cancel culture.
Relationships without commitment. Marriages are “forever for now,“ and the divides we’ve seen between left and right ripping even through churches speaks of our desire to only be with people who agree with us.
Technology without boundaries. We have allowed technology to take the place of relationships creating faux relationships. We have surrendered executive thinking and decision making at the altar of information and efficiency. We have lost the ability to deeply focus and mediate on the “soul” hunger, the earth “crammed with heaven”, and the necessity of seeing the image of God in another, as well as “being still and knowing God.” We have built our Babel and squeezed God out of the public square of technology.
Leadership without servanthood. Whereas kingdom leadership follows Jesus by submitting itself to those it leads in order that they would grow and thrive and fulfill their unique callings, worldly leaders use those who are under them to prop up their own egos and serve their own vision, needs, or wants – with little to no regard for those being led. In the process, people are used up, devalued, and in effect dehumanized.
These are excellent observations. I might also add, because I am very passionate about standing against Christian Nationalism which I believe is the root cause of many of these worldly habits, that worldliness is ultimately a problem of trust in our own power rather than God. We merge Christian identity with our American identity and seek to preserve Christianity through legislation rather than winning souls to Christ with love. Christian nationalism also distorts the gospel misleading people with unbiblical teachings on subjects like prosperity and freedom.
These are reminiscent of Gandhi's Seven Deadly Social Sins:
- Wealth without work.
- Pleasure without conscience.
- Knowledge without character.
- Commerce without morality.
- Science without humanity.
- Worship without sacrifice.
- Politics without principle.
Relationships without commitment. Marriages are “forever for now,“ and the divides we’ve seen between left and right ripping even through churches speaks of our desire to only be with people who agree with us.
Technology without boundaries. We have allowed technology to take the place of relationships creating faux relationships. We have surrendered executive thinking and decision making at the altar of information and efficiency. We have lost the ability to deeply focus and mediate on the “soul” hunger, the earth “crammed with heaven”, and the necessity of seeing the image of God in another, as well as “being still and knowing God.” We have built our Babel and squeezed God out of the public square of technology.
Leadership without servanthood. Whereas kingdom leadership follows Jesus by submitting itself to those it leads in order that they would grow and thrive and fulfill their unique callings, worldly leaders use those who are under them to prop up their own egos and serve their own vision, needs, or wants – with little to no regard for those being led. In the process, people are used up, devalued, and in effect dehumanized.
To be honest I think you said it.
Your sixth could be debatable as in whose truth.
These are excellent observations. I might also add, because I am very passionate about standing against Christian Nationalism which I believe is the root cause of many of these worldly habits, that worldliness is ultimately a problem of trust in our own power rather than God. We merge Christian identity with our American identity and seek to preserve Christianity through legislation rather than winning souls to Christ with love. Christian nationalism also distorts the gospel misleading people with unbiblical teachings on subjects like prosperity and freedom.