Worldly Attraction

"Do not love the world or the things in the world." - 1 John 2:15a ESV

What an interesting and expansive command.

It makes me think of a circumstance when someone is doing something annoying and the other annoyed person just says, 'Knock it off!' and the offender says, 'What do you mean!?!' The offender just has no clue as to what they are doing wrong.

Here is the context of the above passage.

"I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:12-17 ESV

If we really read 1 John chapter 2 it gives us good reasons to, 'Knock it off.' doesn't it?

These children and these fathers have known victory. They have known God and He transcends culture and every counter cultural or sub-cultural movement. He created the planet but He does not love the world. He loves people but not the systems and fads of the world.

In fiction if you want to establish the 'coolness' of a character there are certain methods you can employ. Making them love something cool is one way to do it. A dull character loves nothing.

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled." - Titus 1:15 ESV

"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." - John 17:15-17 ESV

Yes. We are in the world but not of the world.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1 ESV

God does not condemn us for being attracted to things. We live in a culture that tells us to explore every attraction and derive an identity from the bond that forms in that exploration but we have a holy God that tells us to refuse to love the world and love His mind instead.

God's way restores purity and innocent appreciation. Love of the world will only defile us.

End the affair now and return to your true love. He already thinks you are cool.

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