Combating The Influence of the World

How can believers live in a world that is increasingly hostile to the truth? This is a question that is frequently on the mind of God’s people. It seems like in every place that I preach I get asked some form of this question. It is an understandable question given the current cultural climate, and the speed at which the culture has abandoned clear, creational truths about marriage, gender, and morality. So what are we going to do?

The temptation is to want to withdraw completely. We could form Christian compounds and communities that would protect our children from the influence of the world. It is important to shield our children as much as possible from godless ideologies, however, cloistering ourselves away from the unbelieving world is not a viable option for several reasons. For starters, it won’t work! Wherever we go we take sin with us! The fact that the New Testament outlines a process for church discipline is a reminder that wheat and tares grow up together even within the context of the local church. Even during the Millennial Kingdom, when Christ perfectly reigns over the entire planet, there will grow up a rebellious people that seeks to usurp Christ. So the cloister strategy won’t work. But more than that, we can’t be faithful to our Great Commission if we make it our goal to cut off any interaction with unbelievers. We are to go into the world with the Gospel in order to make and mature disciples for the glory of God!

But this brings us back to the question, how do we exist in and engage with a world that hates Christ and preys on susceptible souls? There are a number of biblical passages that provide several biblical principles for us to employ on this issue. For example,

“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 2:16–17, ESV)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:12–19, ESV)

Additionally, God has given us two internal resources to combat the influence of the world on our hearts—discernment and conscience. If we are going to be a people who remain holy in a wicked culture, we are going to need our powers of discernment sharpened so that we can tell the difference between the truth and a lie, and at the same time we are going to need sensitive consciences that are able to distinguish between what is right and wrong.

Through the regenerating work of the Spirit and the informing power of the word, believers have been given the spiritual capacity for discernment. Essentially, discernment is being able to distinguish truth from error. Discernment is an important part of the Christian life and an indispensable virtue of a useful church. It is the wisdom of recognizing what actually comes from God and conforms to his truth. It is the skill of identifying what an influence is, where it comes from, and what it will lead to. It is the skill of recognizing that which is true, good, and holy in the midst of blatant evil, subtle error, and misguided influences. This is a discipline that we need to sharpen if we are going to be faithful in our generation. As Hebrews 5:14 teaches, we need to increase our capacity for discernment through exposure to God’s word and through exercising discernment in our lives: “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14, ESV).

If discernment is the discipline of distinguishing between truth and lies, your conscience is the part of your inner-man that helps you to discern between right and wrong. It is a “moral sixth sense.” As a gift from God, your conscience is designed to be an important moral guide for your life. When properly functioning, it should serve as a warning against violating God’s law and an affirmation of when you have obeyed God. You should never go against your conscience, but it is not the final authority in your life—that role belongs to God’s word. This means that you must inform your conscience with the truth of Scripture. A conscience that has been cleansed by the Gospel and informed by Scripture is a powerful protection against the encroachments of the world!

If we are going to remain faithful in an increasingly wicked culture we need to take advantage of the internal resources that God has provided to us in order to combat the influences of this world. We must sharpen our powers of discernment and soften our consciences with the truth of God.