The Cross and The World

The Roman Cicero summarized the attitude of the ancient world to the Cross when he said, “Not only let the cross be absent from the person of Roman citizens, but its very name from their thoughts, eyes and ears.”

What are your thoughts on that? Has anything changed over the last 2,000 years?

	The world has such contempt, hatred, disrespect, dislike and disapproval with anything having to do with Christ because it is contrary to the Spirit of God.

Have you had any struggles or challenges because of your faith?   Explain. 

SIN OF THE CHURCH TODAY

To be honest, this chapter is difficult to digest. The reality of how closely the church walks with the world was an eye opener. Even though this book was written in 1945 the examples given then about “worldlines” does not differ from today. Some examples would be modernism, fear of what others may think, not given to sharing the gospel, prayer or the studying of the Word.

Today there is so much distraction coming at us from many sources. We have social media which has captured the hearts and minds of many. We have television, computer and music coming at us in many ways, YouTube, sports, news, HBO, Netflix, cable and phones.

We have made celebrities and athletics larger than life. We want to follow their every move, talk like them, dress like them and sadly think like them.

What would you say are some of the “worldliness” that you see today in the Church?

In yourself? 

This chapter makes a daring point that I would like for you to consider.

"We are so worldly minded that we rather be indecent instead of different.”

What are your thoughts?

God said - Leviticus 20:26

“And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine”.

Jesus said - John 15:19

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”.

2 Corinthians 6:17–18

“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Romans 8:12-14 

“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by what it dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God”.

Romans 12:2 

            “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”.

We personally need to take a true examination of our own heart to see if there is any wicked thing. In your prayer time ask the Holy Spirit to reveal those things that have become distractions, compromises and anything else that has drawn you away from the truth and closer to the world.