The world is making its demands. The world wants you to compromise. The world wants you to “go along to get along.” Calling sin, what it is, an offense to God, is entirely unacceptable and is often labeled, by the unbelieving world, as “hate” speech. You might be asked as to why you are being so “intolerant” or may even be told to “stay in your lane.” The “you do you and I’ll do me” philosophy is alive and well. Those who accept anything and everything will label themselves as “loving” while those who stand for the truth of God’s Word will be called bigoted. But make no mistake about it…the world is making demands on Christians. 

A Simple, Binary Choice

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4

When it comes to this life and how we respond to the kingdom of God, there are only two options: we are either friends of God or friends of the world, but we cannot be both at the same time. When we use the word “adulterer” or “adulteress,” most people probably think of being unfaithful in marriage, and it certainly does carry that connotation. But this is not at all the way that James is using this word in the above passage. He’s not referring to sexual infidelity rather he is pointing to spiritual unfaithfulness. He is speaking to everyone who claims the name of Jesus. If we are married, having taken vows to our spouse, we are to make sure that we are faithful to those vows and honor them everyday. This means forsaking all others for the voluntary choice of devoting ourselves to one person. Now, take that definition and apply it to our spiritual life and you will see what James is conveying. If we have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, having been born again and spiritually transformed, we are now to stay faithful to our Lord and Savior, walking with Him everyday. This means forsaking all other religions, philosophies, idolatries, and ways that promote the “anything but Jesus” agenda. We should be making sure that we are faithful to the One who has saved our very souls. The world will ask you to “cheat.” The world will widen the parameters that God has set in exchange for an “anything goes” mentality. But we must always remember that the unbelieving world is not a part of and will not promote godly behavior, truth, or the abundant, eternal life that we find in Jesus. After all, the unbelieving world is still caught in darkness, spiritual blindness, and the corruption of their own minds (Romans 1:18-32). They do not and cannot accept the things of God, for the are void of the Holy Spirit, having never received salvation in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). So we have to choose and choose we will. While the world “doubles down” on depravity, ungodliness, and everything that stands in opposition to God, we need to “double down” in our walk with Christ, drawing on the confidence, provision, protection, and power that comes from a daily encounter with God. It is the Spirit of God that gives us the ability to live as those “set apart” and to stand for godliness, even in the face of a culture morally rotting from the inside out. 

So what is this simple, binary choice? We can become friends of the world, in effect, making ourselves hostile toward God and enemies of Him or we can surrender our lives to Jesus, receiving salvation and the Spirit of God, and then living lives that honor God and run contrary to conventional thinking. But make no mistake about it, we cannot do both. At some point, in the life of every person, we will either go the way of the world, adopting it’s attitudes, motives, and priorities or we will find life in Jesus, bowing our knee only to His name, and finding the freedom and abundance that comes with knowing God personally (Psalm 1:1-3. Philippians 2:9-11). 

Commitment To Jesus Will Draw Hatred

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 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, because of this the world hates you.

    John 15:18-19

The God of the universe, who spoke everything into existence, came to earth, putting on human flesh, and walked among His own creation. And how was He received? Well, the hurting, broken, despised, and sinful were happy to hear that He was coming their way. But for the rest, including the religious, Jesus was met with hatred, opposition, and ultimately physical violence, leading to His death on a cross. The Good News: He came out of that tomb three days later, declaring victory over sin and death and offering abundant, eternal life to all who would call on His name. But don’t forget, when God came to earth, He was met with hatred. Why is this? 

Darkness does not like Light. But darkness cannot overcome light. This is true in the physical world but it also plays out in our spiritual lives as well. Darkness cannot overcome light. It will scream, gnash it’s teeth, clinch it’s fists, lash out at others, and spew all sorts of hatred, but it cannot overcome the light. If you have every laid in bed at night, perhaps when it was very dark outside and their was very little light to be seen and a text comes in on your phone, the effects are obvious. The darkness in the room is briefly lit up as the screen on your phone lets you know that you have a message. This is what light does. It lights up the darkest of situations. And just like physical darkness will disappear when confronted with even the smallest of lights, the same is true spiritually. And the key source to spiritual light? Jesus! There is power in the name of Jesus. That’s not a cliche rather that is a profound truth. There is power in the name of Jesus. Speak it, pray it, and claim it over your life and the life of your family and watch the power of God begin to work in your life and in the lives of those around you. 

Darkness cannot overcome the light. The devil wants to overcome the kingdom of God but he cannot. The devil was defeated when Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) The devil works from a defeated position and so do those who are surrendered over to his evil deeds, some who may not even be aware that they are being manipulated by his lies. But that is all that he has…lies and deception. He cannot overcome the light but he can deceive people into thinking that what he is saying is true and that what God has proclaimed cannot be trusted. But as believers, who have been spiritually transformed, we know better. As we mature in our faith, we can differentiate between what is good and what is evil, what is of God and what is a lie of the enemy. The general population cannot. So comes the hatred. Those who live in spiritual darkness hate the light. They will avoid stepping into the light by evading contact with Christians, especially in a corporate church setting, abstaining from opening the Word of God (the Bible), and steering clear of conversations that may bring them face to face with the truth (John 3:19-21). It’s easy to draw upon the regular, socially acceptable speech we might hear at a dinner party. Talk of sports, our favorite activities, or describing the last trip that we took, are commonplace at such events. But insert talk of salvation, what it means to surrender one’s life to Christ, or how our daily lives are honoring God and reflecting the spiritual change within us and you will often see a recoil reaction from those who live apart from Christ. This is why Christians, even those who do not know each other, can gather and ultimately have a likemindedness and unity with each other. It is the Holy Spirit that promotes such unity (Ephesians 4:3). 

So, Jesus reminds us that He was hated before any of us were hated by the world. And the closer we walk with Jesus, the more hatred we will draw, especially if we are vocal about our faith. 

There are two truths that we need to always remember as the world asks us to compromise and join them in their depravity. (1) Jesus says, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.” If we think, speak, and act like the world, valuing the things that the world values, and participating in what they do, we will be accepted by the world. In essence, the world is asking us to stop shining the light of Jesus into every situation rather they want us to fold into the darkness in which they live. They don’t seem to mind what we do “in church” but when we bring that light into the public square, the place where the darkness is so pervasive, the darkness will begin to squeal. Peter reminds us of this reality:

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles (unbelievers), having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In all this, they (those who live in spiritual darkness) are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign (insult) you. 

      1 Peter 4:3-4

This demand to conform to the world and it’s ways can come from anyone, even in our family situations. Consider the words of Jesus:

“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

    Luke 12:51-53

Our own families can be the battleground where the two competing spiritual forces are contending. The family members who love the Lord with all of their heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit will not jibe with those who are living for themselves and are void of the presence of God in their lives. And Jesus, by including “in-laws,” even acknowledges how complicated things can get when our children get married and other religions, philosophies, and allegiances are brought into the family. And how do we know who is who? Lifestyles. One has an allegiance to the world and all that it has to offer and we, as believers, exhibit a life centered around the power of God’s Spirit living inside of us. And while there will be attempts to “play nice,” be socially cordial, and pretend that everything is fine, the reality will eventually come out in each person’s decisions, motives, attitudes, and priorities. Jesus reminds us that if we were still of the world, the world would have no problem with us. 

(2) “But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” We know the ultimate reason why we are rejected by the unbelieving world…it is for following Christ. It really isn’t us rather it is our affiliation with Jesus. As Christians, we have been born again, saved, forgiven, spiritually moved from death to life, and are now filled with the Holy Spirit of God. We live in this world, for now, but we are definitely not of this world. It is important for us to hear Jesus when He says, “I chose you out of the world.” This is a vital and powerful truth that we need to allow to wash over our minds, hearts, and souls. If you have been saved (born again, John 3:3), Jesus has set you apart for Himself and you have heaven as your eternal home. This salvation will neither yield you apathetic to God and His kingdom nor will it be confined to just religious doctrine. When we are saved, we are transformed! We say “no” to the world and “yes” to Christ. Because we now have a part in the kingdom, it is because of this, that the world hates us. Just as they hated Christ in the first century and continue to do now, they will hate all of those who belong to Him as well. We need to stop scratching our heads, wandering why people respond to us the way they do and start discerning the spiritual warfare that is taking place all around us. This is the reality of being a born again believer and follower of Jesus Christ and He (Jesus) has made that quite clear. People who are fully committed to this world and opposed to Christ will not be able to tolerate those who have been chosen out of this world by Christ and now belong to Him. And that brings us to an important question that we all should be asking ourselves. 

Are We Standing Out Or Blending In? 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial (Satan), or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

2 Corinthians 6:14-16a

“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. 

2 Corinthians 6:17a

The instruction is clear…we are not to be bound (unequally yoked) with unbelievers. This includes believers marrying unbelievers but it goes far beyond that. This passage is referring to any alliance that we might make with an unbeliever or with the world in general. Any unholy alliance, some sort of an agreement that compromises God’s standard and our calling to be set apart for Him, is to be avoided at all costs. This doesn’t mean that we cannot befriend an unbeliever. How else are we to positively affect their lives with the love and goodness of God and share the gospel with them? We can befriend them. What we cannot do is enter into some sort of an agreement that opposes God and puts their souls at risk. That’s not a loving thing to do to someone. We must speak the truth but we do so with love and respect for the other person. But when faced with the choice to follow along with them, as an unbeliever, or stand in the truth of God’s Word, we must always choose the latter. 

Why do we guard our hearts against such an alliance with the world? Consider these five (5) words: partnership, fellowship, harmony, “in common,” (as to have something in common with someone else), and agreement. All of these words intend to direct us in the same way. They all point to an effort to try and bring two sides of an issue together. And in the context of what Paul is referring, in this passage, the two sides are the two sides of the spiritual war that is taking place in our world everyday.

Righteousness vs Lawlessness (Wickedness)

Light vs Darkness

Christ vs Belial (Satan)

Believers vs Unbelievers

The Temple Of God vs Idols

Read down the left side of the above then read down the right side. Every one of us belongs to one of these two groups. There simply is no “middle ground” or “neutral zone.” In spiritual warfare, it is one or the other. So Paul brings this truth to light by asking if these two sides can ever be brought together. Of course the answer is “no.” And the answer to each of these five (5) rhetorical questions drives the point home.

1. Can Righteousness Partner With Wickedness? May It Never Be!

We need to define “righteousness.” The righteousness that the Bible speaks of is a gift given to us by God when we are saved, born again (Romans 4:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21). This kind of righteousness doesn’t speak to our actions, although Christians should be performing righteous acts as a result of their position in Christ and the filling of the Spirit of God within them. This “righteousness” is our spiritual standing with God when we surrender our lives to Christ. The unbelieving world does not enjoy the same right standing with God. Until a person comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ, they remain spiritually dead and unable to please God. So can a person in right standing with God partner with the wickedness of the unbelieving world? Of course not! But this is what the world is asking of us as Christians. They want us to betray our right standing with God in order to join them in their depravity. This kind of partnership has never been and can never be!

2. Can Light Have Fellowship With Darkness?  May It Never Be!

We have already discussed the physical impossibility of darkness existing when confronted with light and how that physical reality applies to spiritual things as well. Just read the words of Jesus in John 3:19-21 as He describes the two kinds of people and how each responds to light, truth, and spiritual holiness. Just as the people of God cannot partner with that which is wicked, those who walk in the light of Christ and in the power of the Spirit of God within them cannot have fellowship with darkness. The word “fellowship,” in the New Testament, means “being likeminded.” This is why we see people following the old adage: “Birds of a feather, flock together.” We like being around people who accept us, affirm us (whether we are doing what is right or not),  and promote, establish, and validate our choices. Christians want to be around other believers while the unbelieving world will find others who participate in the things of the world as they do. But just like physical light affects the darkness around us, so too, spiritual light does the same to the unbelieving, driving them away from the light to comfortably exist in their darkness.

3. Can Christ Be In Harmony With Belial (Satan)? May It Never Be!

Perhaps this rhetorical questions most clearly illustrates the choice that each of us has to make in our lives. There are only two kingdoms: that of God and Christ and that of Satan and the demons. There never has been, in eternity past, nor will there ever be, in all of eternity, harmony between the kingdom of God and the demonic. We see this illustrated in the Bible as Jesus would confront demons. No match for sure but clearly a disunity, a disharmony between the two. We are either being controlled by the Spirit of God living within us or we are falling for the lies, deception, and scheming of the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-17). This is why it is vital for us to be born again, receive the Spirit of God, and walk in the power that comes through authentic spiritual transformation. Religious motion simply will not being about the same results. That is why we can observe lots of people who claim a religion but fail to live out a changed life in Jesus Christ. While they may be religious, it is quite possible that they have never been saved. If someone comfortably fits well into the mold of the world and it’s ways, this could, perhaps, be their spiritual reality. 

4. Do Believers Spiritually Have Anything In Common With Unbelievers? No

Notice that we phrased this just a little differently. The reason is that this question deals with our relationships with other humans. The other four questions deal with the spiritual realm and the battle taking place around us. So can we, as Christians, have something in common with unbelievers? There are all kinds of ways that we can have something in common with another person. We might be from the same family so we have bloodline in common. We might have graduated from the same school and have that in common. Perhaps we served in the military with others and have a commonality with them. Maybe, we find others that like the same things that we do, so we have that in common. We could go on forever with ways that people can have commonality with others. However, spiritually, do believers have anything in common with unbelievers? No. One group is heading for heaven, the other for eternal separation from God. This plight can be reversed, however, and those who are currently unbelievers can find saving faith in Christ just as we have. This is why it is so important for Christians to share the gospel with as many people as we can, especially family. Exercising our spiritual gifts, walking in the power of the Spirit of God, and not compromising in our walk with Christ, are some of the best ways that we can positively affect people for the kingdom. Showing the unbelieving world love and acceptance while making sure that we do not partner with them in their depravity has the power to bring others to Christ…the ultimate mission of the church (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16). 

5. Can The Temple Of God Be In Agreement With Idols? May It Never Be!

Here’s where we need to understand a little more about what is being presented. In the Old Testament, the temple of God was a specific location. But Paul is speaking in terms of the new covenant in Christ. The temple of God is now, not a specific location, rather it is each one of us who have been saved. Because the Spirit of God lives within our hearts, we are now the temple of God. In other words, we don’t “go to church” rather we are the church. Yes, we gather with other believers in a specific location called a church, but we need to understand that the church is not a specific location rather every born again believer in Jesus is the church. So the light of the gospel travels all over as we make our way through the day. 

And what about idols? These are the things that the world chases after…money, power, pleasure, and position (1 John 2:15-17). But we are not to love these things nor chase after them. Our priority is our position and walk with Christ. Forsaking the things that make up idolatry, we serve God and God alone. So, what agreement can the temple of God, all Christians, have with those who chase after the things of the world? There can never be such an agreement…opposite lifestyles, opposite priorities, and opposite spiritual conditions. 

A Call To Spiritually Awaken

The world is making it’s demands on you. The world wants you to lay down your right standing with God and embrace the very things that God opposes, the things which bring about ruin, destruction, and, ultimately, condemnation. The world wants you to lay down your light and be folded into the corruption and darkness that is this culture. The world wants you to reject everything that God has said about Himself and about our spiritual enemy. The world wants you to do the same things that they do, chasing after all of the idols, trinkets, and trappings that have caught their eye. But we are not to do any of the above. Consider God’s declaration:

“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. 

2 Corinthians 6:17a

God is not calling us to physical separation from others rather He is calling us to live in such a way that demonstrates that we have truly been saved. He is calling us to live in such a way that can be considered “wise” and worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 5:14-16). This is how we will see change, in our own lives, in the lives of our family, in our communities, and in the world!