Henry Krabbendam - James - World Evangelical Alliance

a complete repudiation of the ‘world’ will do. There is no halfway, no place
for a ‘double minded’ mixing of fundamental orientations in life. We must
choose, and we must know it” (Brosend, 116).
This implies, first of all, that the affections of the heart should not be set
upon the things of this world (Eph. 2:2; 2 Tim. 4:10; Heb. 11:13-16). God’s
people are pilgrims on this earth. They seek a city of which God is the architect
and builder. They set their affection on the things in heaven (Col. 3:2).
Therefore, to enjoy the things of the world apart from God constitutes an “intimacy”
that is tantamount to adultery. It may appear harmless. It may even
seem legitimate, but the heart is idolatrous. See the warning of both 1 Corinthians
7:31, and 1 John 5:21.
When God is out of the picture, the world is always self-centered. On the
other hand, the Christian should always be God-centered. One might think
that certain activities or undertakings are perfectly acceptable. However, they
are not, if they are done without reference to God or apart from God. Such
activities might include taking a sunbath, being immersed in your work, focusing
your attention on your home, monitoring the progress of your children,
etc. None of these activities are sinful in themselves. Some of them may even
be commanded. But if they are done without reference to God, one can be
sure that they are not sanctified. Candidly, they are fruitless like a rock, brutal
like a beast, poisonous like the demons, constitute “death in spite of the appearance
of life” (Rev. 3:1), and consequently stand under the condemnation
of the Lord (Mt. 24:38-39). They may become sanctified, all right, but only
through the Word and prayer (1 Tim. 4:5). If enterprises that are acceptable in
themselves are already under God’s wrath if done apart from God, this will
apply doubly to activities, which are unacceptable in themselves (Eph. 2:1-3).
In short, only what is “from God, through God and unto God” meets God’s
standard and reflects his glory (Rom. 11:36). Everything else will burn up in
the Judgment and be consigned to the garbage dump and trash heap of eternity.
Secondly, this implies that the world is not allowed to mold God’s people
according to its pattern. When the thirst of the heart is set upon the Lord
and his kingdom, this will become the motivating and molding power behind
the Christian’s life-style in general, along with his thoughts, words, and actions
in particular. It is here that the world and God’s kingdom (ought to)
clash. Just think of the struggle between Christianity and socialistic communism.
The latter has declared total war against the Lord and his anointed (Ps.
2:2-3). It is unalterably opposed to the motivations and the activities of the
Christian, and endeavors to mold society according to its own ideology. The
result is that Christians either fall in line, conform, or they must die!
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