When Scripture repeatedly warns about something, we really should pay some close attention. If we think we can just ignore such warnings we are simply fooling ourselves, and setting ourselves up for a big fall. Indeed, the many clear-cut commands found in the Bible are not to be taken as mere advice.
Yet plenty of Christians think they can just do their own thing and not pay any attention to the host of warnings and danger signs posted in Scripture. They really are fools when they take such a course of action. As we are strongly admonished:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:22-25).
So we must take these warnings seriously. One of the oft-heard warnings found in the Bible is the danger of worldliness, of letting the world dominate our lives and priorities. We are told so often to avoid this danger, and be very wary of compromising our faith by becoming too cosy with the world and the world system.
Yahweh through Ezekiel for example warns the people about this: “You say, ‘We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone’” (Ez 20:32). That was always a temptation for ancient Israel and it is too for Christians today.
James offers a clarion call in this regard: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). So does John: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15).
Paul makes it clear when he says this: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
And Jesus himself spelled this out quite plainly: “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Yet way too many believers simply spurn such commands and think they can dance with the devil and waltz with the world and not get burned.
They think they can just emulate the world, copy the world, cosy up to the world, and embrace the world’s values and mindset. Well they can, but it will always be to the detriment of their own faith. As Jesus also said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).
If we want to be a friend of the world and please men, then we cannot be a friend of God and please him. It is that simple. The two are completely incompatible, and we all must choose who we will give our ultimate allegiance to.
Of course to say all this is not to claim that sold-out Christians cannot be successful in worldly endeavours or secular work. There are plenty of strong Christians who do great in their particular fields, whether it be a Tim Tebow in football, or a Ben Carson in neurosurgery, or a C. S. Lewis in literature.
They have all excelled in their fields, yet maintained a consistent Christian witness. They did not allow the world to squeeze them into its mould. Yet many believers who are successful at something do succumb to the siren calls of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Simply look at the various pop stars of today who enjoy worldly success but have abandoned their faith in the process. I have discussed some of these elsewhere on this site, but another recent example can be mentioned. It seems pop star Katy Perry, who was raised in a strong Christian home, has finally declared her allegiance.
So she has said she will put fame and fortune ahead of God. She has come to the place where she is renouncing her faith in order to make it big with the world and worldly fame and praise. What a tragic choice to make. This is how one article covers the story:
“Pop singer Katy Perry opened up about her views on God and theology in a recent interview with Marie Claire, telling the magazine that she’s no longer Christian and that she doesn’t believe in heaven, hell or ‘an old man sitting on a throne.’
“Perry did tell the outlet, though, that she believes in a higher power — a paradigm that holds her accountable. ‘Accountability is rare to find, especially with people like myself, because nobody wants to tell you something you don’t want to hear,’ the singer said. ‘I actually don’t trust people who start to turn on me because they get scared of telling me the truth.’
“Perry also rejected traditional theological labels, but said that, though she has left her evangelical faith behind, she still feels close to the Lord. ‘I’m not Buddhist, I’m not Hindu, I’m not Christian, but I still feel like I have a deep connection with God,’ she said.”
So Christianity has to go it appears. But our souls, like nature, abhor a vacuum, so it seems she has filled her spiritual emptiness with pop trendy religion. The piece continues, “Marie Claire reported that Perry gets her connection to spirituality through the writings of Eckhart Tolle, an author known for his popular books about metaphysics and spirituality. She also practices Transcendental Meditation, a form of mantra meditation.”
Not surprising of course. Seeking fame, popularity, fortune and the good life of course clashes with biblical Christianity. It is all about putting sin and self first, the very things which must be mortified in the Christian faith. And she latches on to a non-demanding, self-serving form of New Age Movement beliefs.
Tolle’s NAM mumbo-jumbo is all about self, and getting what you want. It has nothing to do with surrendering to a holy, righteous God who demands our all. And the Tolle nonsense is replicated in much of the Christian world. As I documented elsewhere, there is barely a bit of difference between what Tolle preaches and what cotton-candy preachers like Joel Osteen proclaim: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2009/05/18/will-the-real-gospel-please-stand-up/
So right now the world has captured Perry big time. She has renounced her own faith and decided to be her own god. Hmm, where did we hear this before? Oh yeah: back in the garden when Satan told our first parents: “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
As Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The greatest danger confronting the Christian is not so much the opposition of the world as the enticements of the world.” Tragically we see this played out with Katy Perry. She has “sold her soul to the devil” for worldly fame and success. And she said exactly that. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10rx15v28yk
Obviously we need to pray for Katy Perry that she returns to her senses and returns to her faith. But right now she is headed for a lost eternity – all so that she can be some big-cheese pop princess. That is a fool’s bargain.
Terribly sad. The world is a flash and then it’s over but the ramifications are eternal :/
Another good article, as always.
At least she is honest enough to admit she is no longer a Christian. Most of our popular culture figures, live the same way, trample the Bible underfoot and yet still call themselves Christian. Guy Sebastian is one that comes to mind.
“…..As Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The greatest danger confronting the Christian is not so much the opposition of the world as the enticements of the world…..”
I think it was Irving Kristol who said before he died around a decade ago something like “there is a gathering resurgance of young people who are searching for religion and they go off and try all sorts of things, but there is nothing wrong with the established Christian Churches.”
I don’t know much about Kristol, but it has become noticable to me since I read that, that there is this current public display by the young for firstly stating their rejection of Christianity with a few common ‘negative sound bites’ but then that so-called religion that they have just found is seldom elaborated on in depth – instead just favourable sound bites are said.
And as Bill pointed out “….So Christianity has to go it appears. But our souls, like nature, abhor a vacuum, so it seems she has filled her spiritual emptiness with pop trendy religion…”
Wordly enticements as Lloyd-Jones calls it, in Perry’s case popularity; firstly rejecting Christianity and taking up something else in it’s place makes you twice as popular in the current times. And it’s twice the devil’s work.
For the sake of the young, and those who are hurting, and who are truely searching for religion, the likes of the popular Perry should be publicly questioned by the Churches for making such crass comments about Christianity.
– As Kristol noted, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Christianity if it is religion that you are talking about – and the likes of Perry are not talking about anything else other than religion! {btw there’s nothing wrong with Christianity elsewhere in case you think I may mean that}
Thanks Bill and God Bless.
As Sir Cliff Richard demonstrates, it isn’t necessary to go down this path, either.
Dear Bill, Katy Perry was raised on “Christian Music”. Her parents may have totally neglected the Classical Church music that has been composed over the past thousand years. That is what I am concerned about with that young lady. She is a good singer. She needs to know what has been happening over the past thousand years, regards, Franklin
Excellent article, Bill. Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote “The greatest danger confronting the Christian is not so much the opposition of the world as the enticements of the world.” is the crux of it. There are so many lures in this world and it seems almost impossible for people, especially young people to resist them. According to a couple of different studies such as http://guardianlv.com/2013/08/studies-show-that-children-just-want-to-be-famous/, the number one ambition of today’s generation is to be famous. If that is the goal, how vulnerable are they to be willing to do whatever it takes? There seems to be some demonic rite of passage that needs to be passed through in order to enter that elite world. And it’s not difficult to understand that satan knows he controls the heart and soul of this current generation through MTV and the media. So why on earth would he not tie up those avenues so that entrance and rewards are only permitted to those who sell their souls? We are yet to see any measure of victory in this arena. Victory would be those imprisoned souls coming out of that bondage into salvation and living to tell the tale. If prayer moves mountains, it might be the only thing that will move this mountain.
‘an old man sitting on a throne.’ So many people have bought this silly image of God created by atheists. A similar meme is Peter Fitzsimon’s regular dismissal of God as, “your imaginary friend in the sky”. Juvenile.
Clearly they have no idea about God and they glory in their ignorance which speaks more about them than it does of God.
C.S.Lewis has a very helpful essay on the subject – ‘The Inner Ring.’ Unless you consciously make a decision to not be compromised by the world, the quest for acceptance by it will break your heart.
“….satan knows he controls the heart and soul of this current generation through MTV and the media. So why on earth would he not tie up those avenues so that entrance and rewards are only permitted to those who sell their souls? We are yet to see any measure of victory in this arena. Victory would be those imprisoned souls coming out of that bondage into salvation and living to tell the tale…”
Dee Graff, American Thinker had an artical a while back saying that Hollywood over the last decade makes more money from ‘christian/family orientated movies’ [Bill has said before that some modern type movies are based upon Christian themes] than it does from all their other obscene rubbish. And the return on each dollar invested is better too. Mum’s and dad’s apparently don’t like forking out the money to see rubbish as a family. Disney is one who apparently does well.
So I suppose if Hollywood is going to have a vice then I may favour greed – albeit it will probably be our money – but that’s the thing I suppose with worldly goods – we should maybe buy the good stuff when needed and publicy denounce the bad all of the time. See Disney stuff and rubbish Tarrentino maybe.
The ‘imprisoned souls’ you mention may then stay with the good stuff as that is where the money appears to be – the likes of Lindsey Lohan and Milly Cyrus got their ‘start’ as Disney Mickey Mouse Club girls – but they went down hill rapidly after leaving Disney. Cheers Dee.
I don’t think you have to sell your soul to become popular, powerful or prosperous. So many who are do. There are some who are successful who are Godly examples. Machiavelli in his work “The Prince” says that we should emulate Great men in order that even if we don’t attain their greatness then we can have some measure of it.
In our world we should seek to emulate godly men. For people who want to rule they should emulate Moses, David, Solomon in his early years. For Warrior’s we should teach them of Joshua, Samson and the mighty men of David. For Prophet’s teach them about Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. For Artist we should teach them of the gift of Metalworking given to the crafter of the Ark of the Covenant, the artists of the temple and the builders of the wall’s of Jerusalem. For those who were abandoned look at Joseph and Jabez to give them hope.
Most people in a generation have a similar focus. Some people are born out of sync with the majority. A different focus may be needed for special talents. If we want kids to be champions of God then we need to give them strong teaching in the word so they have examples to follow.
What about Justin Bieber?
Bieber is a practicing Christian, and has said he believes he has a relationship with Jesus, that he talks to him and that “he’s the reason I’m here”.
hmmm….
“Once I stopped being chaperoned, and realized I had a choice in life, I was like, ‘Wow, there are a lot of choices.’ I began to become a sponge for all that I had missed—the music, the movies. I was as curious as the cat. But I’m not dead yet.”
This was Katy Perry’s response in 2010 where according to the title of the article she was “still a Christian”
She has now renounced that view in public and now follows the occultic TM principles
Unfortunately there are multitudes who hold to the “eternal security” heresy who either defend her position as “still saved” or like the Calvinists (where I obtained the article), try to fob her off as “never really saved to begin with”.
It is about time this doctrine was brought to the attention of your Australian readers Bill, where it is now gaining momentum.
I pray that Katy Perry returns to Jesus before she is “dead”
God help America
Thanks Dameon. It is only a heretical view to those who are pushing a particular theological point of view. The truth is there are a heap of texts which both sides can appeal to on this debate. Both sides have a full share of defenders over the centuries. And it is not even clear if this particular doctrine had anything to do with her choices. So we will leave that debate for another time, when I actually write a piece on it.
Well now, it would appear that Ms Perry likes a bet, cause shes certainly having an each way bet on eternity. Even though she has scorned “The old man upstairs” she needs to know however that He still loves her but she will most likely go into a dark eternity with God loving her still and undoubtedly grieving over her lost soul.
It never ceases to astound me the way some celebrities trash their faith and their lives for what? adulation, a moment in the sun, a fist full of dollars and a fools paradise. All these starry wonders bate Satan’s traps and the gullible starry eyed lambs just keep marching on, all the way to the edge of the cliff – so sad.
This young woman needs our prayer —she’s the one the good shepherd is in search of, poor little prodigal daughter, and our prayers can make a difference for her.
The devil said to Jesus I will give you all the kingdoms of the world (and in a “Moment of Time” he showed them to him). If you will but worship me.
These kingdoms are all the kingdoms not just those around the Mediterranean for as it says they were shown in a “moment of time”.
Woe unto the inhabitants of the world for Satan has been cast down to the earth.
Satan is still here and is still collection souls. Whoever we think we are and despite our loved ones we are still a soul an individual that can be so easily tempted and one that will be judged as a single soul in its lonely singular journey to come. In this It becomes us to continue to show those that are tempted the far greater infinity of Gods Kingdom as apposed to the brief rewards of the devil. After all it is he who is tied to this world and who is imprisoned here as the evil false enticer of those who pledged their souls for his rewards.
And Justin Bieber’s minders were keenly aware of the dangers of the field he was entering some years ago. Reminds me of the old 1984 movie “O God You Devil” starring George Burns as both God and the devil. The main theme of the movie was “whoever they cry out to, gets them”. The devil is such an expert in worship, surpassing most of us in this. He knows just how to elicit worship from us, and then that leads to service. Worship and serve, that’s how it works.
I am sure that Kate Perry has not grasped the ramifications of her attitude toward The Living God, Psalm 117:2 says that the Truth of the LORD abides forever (KJV). Full stop.
Thank you Bill
Terribly sad. The world is a flash and then it’s over but the ramifications are eternal :/
Another good article, as always.
At least she is honest enough to admit she is no longer a Christian. Most of our popular culture figures, live the same way, trample the Bible underfoot and yet still call themselves Christian. Guy Sebastian is one that comes to mind.
“…..As Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The greatest danger confronting the Christian is not so much the opposition of the world as the enticements of the world…..”
I think it was Irving Kristol who said before he died around a decade ago something like “there is a gathering resurgance of young people who are searching for religion and they go off and try all sorts of things, but there is nothing wrong with the established Christian Churches.”
I don’t know much about Kristol, but it has become noticable to me since I read that, that there is this current public display by the young for firstly stating their rejection of Christianity with a few common ‘negative sound bites’ but then that so-called religion that they have just found is seldom elaborated on in depth – instead just favourable sound bites are said.
And as Bill pointed out “….So Christianity has to go it appears. But our souls, like nature, abhor a vacuum, so it seems she has filled her spiritual emptiness with pop trendy religion…”
Wordly enticements as Lloyd-Jones calls it, in Perry’s case popularity; firstly rejecting Christianity and taking up something else in it’s place makes you twice as popular in the current times. And it’s twice the devil’s work.
For the sake of the young, and those who are hurting, and who are truely searching for religion, the likes of the popular Perry should be publicly questioned by the Churches for making such crass comments about Christianity.
– As Kristol noted, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Christianity if it is religion that you are talking about – and the likes of Perry are not talking about anything else other than religion! {btw there’s nothing wrong with Christianity elsewhere in case you think I may mean that}
Thanks Bill and God Bless.
As Sir Cliff Richard demonstrates, it isn’t necessary to go down this path, either.
Dear Bill, Katy Perry was raised on “Christian Music”. Her parents may have totally neglected the Classical Church music that has been composed over the past thousand years. That is what I am concerned about with that young lady. She is a good singer. She needs to know what has been happening over the past thousand years, regards, Franklin
Excellent article, Bill. Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote “The greatest danger confronting the Christian is not so much the opposition of the world as the enticements of the world.” is the crux of it. There are so many lures in this world and it seems almost impossible for people, especially young people to resist them. According to a couple of different studies such as http://guardianlv.com/2013/08/studies-show-that-children-just-want-to-be-famous/, the number one ambition of today’s generation is to be famous. If that is the goal, how vulnerable are they to be willing to do whatever it takes? There seems to be some demonic rite of passage that needs to be passed through in order to enter that elite world. And it’s not difficult to understand that satan knows he controls the heart and soul of this current generation through MTV and the media. So why on earth would he not tie up those avenues so that entrance and rewards are only permitted to those who sell their souls? We are yet to see any measure of victory in this arena. Victory would be those imprisoned souls coming out of that bondage into salvation and living to tell the tale. If prayer moves mountains, it might be the only thing that will move this mountain.
‘an old man sitting on a throne.’ So many people have bought this silly image of God created by atheists. A similar meme is Peter Fitzsimon’s regular dismissal of God as, “your imaginary friend in the sky”. Juvenile.
Clearly they have no idea about God and they glory in their ignorance which speaks more about them than it does of God.
C.S.Lewis has a very helpful essay on the subject – ‘The Inner Ring.’ Unless you consciously make a decision to not be compromised by the world, the quest for acceptance by it will break your heart.
“….satan knows he controls the heart and soul of this current generation through MTV and the media. So why on earth would he not tie up those avenues so that entrance and rewards are only permitted to those who sell their souls? We are yet to see any measure of victory in this arena. Victory would be those imprisoned souls coming out of that bondage into salvation and living to tell the tale…”
Dee Graff, American Thinker had an artical a while back saying that Hollywood over the last decade makes more money from ‘christian/family orientated movies’ [Bill has said before that some modern type movies are based upon Christian themes] than it does from all their other obscene rubbish. And the return on each dollar invested is better too. Mum’s and dad’s apparently don’t like forking out the money to see rubbish as a family. Disney is one who apparently does well.
So I suppose if Hollywood is going to have a vice then I may favour greed – albeit it will probably be our money – but that’s the thing I suppose with worldly goods – we should maybe buy the good stuff when needed and publicy denounce the bad all of the time. See Disney stuff and rubbish Tarrentino maybe.
The ‘imprisoned souls’ you mention may then stay with the good stuff as that is where the money appears to be – the likes of Lindsey Lohan and Milly Cyrus got their ‘start’ as Disney Mickey Mouse Club girls – but they went down hill rapidly after leaving Disney. Cheers Dee.
I don’t think you have to sell your soul to become popular, powerful or prosperous. So many who are do. There are some who are successful who are Godly examples. Machiavelli in his work “The Prince” says that we should emulate Great men in order that even if we don’t attain their greatness then we can have some measure of it.
In our world we should seek to emulate godly men. For people who want to rule they should emulate Moses, David, Solomon in his early years. For Warrior’s we should teach them of Joshua, Samson and the mighty men of David. For Prophet’s teach them about Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. For Artist we should teach them of the gift of Metalworking given to the crafter of the Ark of the Covenant, the artists of the temple and the builders of the wall’s of Jerusalem. For those who were abandoned look at Joseph and Jabez to give them hope.
Most people in a generation have a similar focus. Some people are born out of sync with the majority. A different focus may be needed for special talents. If we want kids to be champions of God then we need to give them strong teaching in the word so they have examples to follow.
What about Justin Bieber?
Bieber is a practicing Christian, and has said he believes he has a relationship with Jesus, that he talks to him and that “he’s the reason I’m here”.
hmmm….
“Once I stopped being chaperoned, and realized I had a choice in life, I was like, ‘Wow, there are a lot of choices.’ I began to become a sponge for all that I had missed—the music, the movies. I was as curious as the cat. But I’m not dead yet.”
This was Katy Perry’s response in 2010 where according to the title of the article she was “still a Christian”
She has now renounced that view in public and now follows the occultic TM principles
Unfortunately there are multitudes who hold to the “eternal security” heresy who either defend her position as “still saved” or like the Calvinists (where I obtained the article), try to fob her off as “never really saved to begin with”.
It is about time this doctrine was brought to the attention of your Australian readers Bill, where it is now gaining momentum.
I pray that Katy Perry returns to Jesus before she is “dead”
God help America
Thanks Dameon. It is only a heretical view to those who are pushing a particular theological point of view. The truth is there are a heap of texts which both sides can appeal to on this debate. Both sides have a full share of defenders over the centuries. And it is not even clear if this particular doctrine had anything to do with her choices. So we will leave that debate for another time, when I actually write a piece on it.
Well now, it would appear that Ms Perry likes a bet, cause shes certainly having an each way bet on eternity. Even though she has scorned “The old man upstairs” she needs to know however that He still loves her but she will most likely go into a dark eternity with God loving her still and undoubtedly grieving over her lost soul.
It never ceases to astound me the way some celebrities trash their faith and their lives for what? adulation, a moment in the sun, a fist full of dollars and a fools paradise. All these starry wonders bate Satan’s traps and the gullible starry eyed lambs just keep marching on, all the way to the edge of the cliff – so sad.
This young woman needs our prayer —she’s the one the good shepherd is in search of, poor little prodigal daughter, and our prayers can make a difference for her.
The devil said to Jesus I will give you all the kingdoms of the world (and in a “Moment of Time” he showed them to him). If you will but worship me.
These kingdoms are all the kingdoms not just those around the Mediterranean for as it says they were shown in a “moment of time”.
Woe unto the inhabitants of the world for Satan has been cast down to the earth.
Satan is still here and is still collection souls. Whoever we think we are and despite our loved ones we are still a soul an individual that can be so easily tempted and one that will be judged as a single soul in its lonely singular journey to come. In this It becomes us to continue to show those that are tempted the far greater infinity of Gods Kingdom as apposed to the brief rewards of the devil. After all it is he who is tied to this world and who is imprisoned here as the evil false enticer of those who pledged their souls for his rewards.
And Justin Bieber’s minders were keenly aware of the dangers of the field he was entering some years ago. Reminds me of the old 1984 movie “O God You Devil” starring George Burns as both God and the devil. The main theme of the movie was “whoever they cry out to, gets them”. The devil is such an expert in worship, surpassing most of us in this. He knows just how to elicit worship from us, and then that leads to service. Worship and serve, that’s how it works.
I am sure that Kate Perry has not grasped the ramifications of her attitude toward The Living God, Psalm 117:2 says that the Truth of the LORD abides forever (KJV). Full stop.