There are two sorts of Christians, it might be said. There are those who react negatively to the world around them, grieve over the evil, and live within the circle of those who share the same view. Then there are those who react positively to the world around them, enjoy life, and enjoy mixing and mingling with all kinds of people; these may be thought of as 'worldly'. There is a scriptural background.

Two Greek words in the New Testament are specially relevant to this subject. One is 'aion'. It means an age, an era, a long period of time. It can have reference to eternity - 'world without end' - but much of its use in scripture relates to the present age. Jesus before His death spoke of the present age that existed then, and Paul spoke of it at the point when the gospel first began to spread. What they say about that present age is resonant with conditions today, two thousand years further on in history.

It was in his parable of the sower that Jesus spoke about the 'cares of this age', which choke the growth of the kingdom in men's lives and hearts (Matthew 13.22). In another parable, He described the 'Sons of this age' as being sharper in business practice than the 'sons of light' (Luke 16.8). When replying to a conundrum about marriage links at the time of the resurrection, he said that marriage concerns were characteristic of the 'Sons of this age' (Luke 20.34) - relevant to the present time and not to the future life.

Paul has several references in 1 Corinthians (1.20; 2.6; 3.18) to the debaters and the rulers and the characteristic wisdom of this age - something which today we can sense in the presuppositions and assumptions of those who are involved in discussion programmes on radio or television. He sees it as being Satan's work, as the 'god of this age', to blind people's minds to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4.4). So, in Romans 12.2 he urges believers not to be conformed to this age, fitting in with and going along with what everybody seems to think and do. He states that Jesus, in dealing with our sins, releases us from the power of the present evil age (Galatians 1.4).

So beware of worldly attitudes: having no time for church or fellowship, being always too busy, or worrying about something or other; doing deals on the internet or elsewhere that sound like sharp practice; having an excessive concern with sex; rejoicing in one's own cleverness. Worldly people are blind to the reasons for having faith, they are set in a mould, and helpless to squeeze out of it. Didn't Jesus give Himself to set us free from all this?

Those who deliberately turn away from 'the world' may not be popular. For example, to leave a good job because it is unethical may be taken as a criticism by one's work friends. To give up social or sporting activities for the sake of doing something better instead… to turn your back on the lottery... to be careful of who you have as your friends... perhaps publicly to reject someone you disapprove of... Our faith, if not mixed with love, may appear as a negative quality to the people around us.

The second Greek word is 'kosmos', and it is used in various connections. It means a harmonious arrangement of things, a state of affairs. It can refer to the earth which God has created at the 'foundation of the world' (Matthew 13.35), the world which God has made, and all things in it (Acts 17.24). It can mean the people of the world, whom Christ came to save (John 3.16). But it also is used to mean the present condition, pattern, arrangement of human affairs and human behaviour, which is bad. So, disciples are chosen by Christ out from the world. They are hated because they do not belong to it (John 15.19). They are told by the apostle (1 John 2.15-17) not to love the world, or the things in it. This order of things is, in the long run, evanescent, fading, temporary, not to be relied on as the basis for one's life. Worse, getting immersed in the world, captured by its sights and sounds, exalted by our own achievements, is incompatible with love for God our Father.

To have a world-rejecting attitude does not make the people of the world like you. The brothers of Jesus were not unpopular, they had done nothing that the world could hate them for (John 7.7). But although the world seems hostile, it can be overcome: that is, we can successfully resist its pressures by our faith (1 John 5.3-5). The suffering entailed in resisting the world may trouble us: but Jesus told his disciples they could be at peace because He has overcome the world (John 16.33). Having faith involves, to quote James (1.23), not only practical care for others but also taking care to avoid being contaminated by the thoughts and behaviours of those around us.

But God loves the world. God's intention for Jesus in coming into the world was to rescue the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him - but the world did not recognise Him. They didn't receive Him. But those who did receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.... (John 1.10-12). God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but to save the world (John 3.17). How do Christians get involved in ministering His love?

There is a text, Mark 16.15, which says 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation'. Although these words are recorded in only one of the alternative endings to Mark's gospel, that is not the point. The point is to let people experience God's love just here, where we are, in one part of God's larger picture. This is the part which concerns us.

As we set about putting wrong things right, we may think of 1 Corinthians 6.3 where Paul speaks about the saints judging the world. That is future. History is full of Christians who in being judges of others have acted like little tin gods. Christians should not even imagine that they must be in control. Jesus came as a servant. But one day they may expect to have work as judges in the new world, making God's love real in people's lives.

2 Corinthians 5.19 speaks of God reconciling the world to Himself through Christ. What is the context? Paul, who writes this does not preach about himself, he preaches Jesus as Lord. Paul is a servant for Jesus' sake, servant to those who are listening. He is inspired as he sees the consequences of Christ giving Himself to rescue the world. So the love of Christ controls us. He died for all. We live not for ourselves, but for Him. We are new people living a new life. And God has given us a ministry of reconciliation. We act as God's ambassadors in the world, with this message - let God be your friend, your helper, your Lord. This is a relationship that He has made possible. Can we help others to share in it?

GC