Is there such thing as a wordly Christian? Followup....?

Question

Ok. I got a bunch of different answers. Don't you agree that it is an oxy moron to say wordly Christian?

When we say Christian, we are referring to being like Christ. Christ in no way was wordly. He was perfect and was that way till he took upon my sins and everyone elses sin.

So to say wordly Christian is wrong. Would you then call them a wordly believer? They are saved but are wordly in ways. You would not call them a Christian.

Some said that there can not be wordly and saved. I think it is possible, but one can not be like that for long because the Lord chastens. If there is no chastening then there is no salvation. Agree?

Do you understand what I'm trying to explain? I was just made aware of this today in a class I'm taking this week about spiritualmindedness.

If you have any mature comments I openly accept them.

Ps. Purity, I like your answer. Praise God!

PSS

Christians sin...Agree? Sometimes Believers dont' do wonderful things. Even after salvation we sin. More than we want to. When they are doing things wrong than they can't be identified with Christ. They still might be saved though.

EXAMPLE: Getting caught up in pornography. I know a Believer who was caught up in that but repented of it and now has victory through Christ over it. Make sense?

Answer 1

Dear Summer Dawn,

In Corinthians Paul addresses some of the believers there as being "carnal" (fleshly and worldly), and we see in other parts of Scripture like: 1 Thessalonians where we are reminded to comfort, exhort, the Unruly, feeble-minded, and weak in the faith.

A lot of the Scriptures i find on this topic- is in relation to how the stronger believers are to build up those in that state.

i think its a good Biblical reminder that people are at different places in their walks. There are certainly people who go to church who aren't very "Christ-like" but thank God that they do go to church.

Ultimately i think God is the one who will divide the goats from the sheep, and as the Scriptures says there will be those who say: "Lord, Lord," and He will say, "I never knew you."

i think there will be those who make it into heaven just by "the skin of their teeth." (as one escaping fire.)

But i catch your general drift- i think a worldly Christian will have difficulty have a strong securedness in their salvation and standing with God. Yes, God will chasten those who are His- and those who are His hear his voice.

i was watching MTV's the real-world today and there was this girl on the program who was raised in the church and she was confessing that some of the activities in her life were not right- she drank, swore, etc. She was on the streets of Australia and stopped and these guys on the street were singing: "Open the eyes of my heart Lord," and she started to weep and i think there is an example of someone who knows God, is worldly, but does hear God's voice. Ultimately i think God knows her heart.

i think the term worldly Christian should not be a label or a category of Christians that we can deliniate "holy Christians" and "fleshly Christians" (we are all saved by grace and sinners deserving of God's wrath- but recipients of God's mercy). We should keep the classification in mind that we can win back our brothers and sisters who are falling away or are in danger of heading down the wrong track in the faith.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 2

There are three different definitions for a "worldly Christian" that I can see.

First, is someone who is obsessed with the things of the world. He/she is either not a Christian to begin with, or is someone who will eventually choose to devote themselves to the world or to God. You cannot be both. In that case, the phrase is an oxymoron, like you said.

Second definition is someone who chooses to not hang out in their Christian circle of friends, but instead spends a lot of time with the non-believers, accepting them for who they are, not ignoring their troubles and their sins, ministering to them. Jesus did this when He walked the earth in the physical body and I believe that we are called to do the same. So if a "worldly Christian" is someone who walks in the world, rather than in a congregation, so they can bring the love of God to the world, then I think that is not only acceptable, but is expected of us.

Finally, you may or may not agree with me on this, but there's a special category of Christians you could call "worldly", that I happen to have a lot of respect for. These are people who have been in the world for all their lives, have personally dealt with some serious issues, and have chosen God to be the center of their lives. These people may be a bit hardened by what they've faced in the world. Their manner of speech may not be the most polite (you might even here a cuss word or two, here and there). They may have adopted some less than desireable habbits and they may still be dealing with a bunch of issues. But they truly understand God's grace. They understand that they don't have to become perfect before God accepts them. And they carry that message (usually less in words and more in actions) to the other people in the world. And what the non-believers see is a real person who's maybe struggling like they are, but the struggle is much easier with God on their side. There's no hypocrisy (or the appearance of such). What you see is what you get.

You might point out that if a person uses fowl language, for example and is a Christian, then they should be convicted by God to correct that, not continue doing so. And I'll agree with that, but I'll also say this: I think it's more important to focus on our relationship with God and what God is doing in our lives right now, then on the appearance of being a perfect Christian. Focus on God and the symptoms of sin will eventually go away, focus on the symptoms and you have a long ways to go in getting close to God. So in that respect, while it seems somewhat of a paradox, I'd say a "worldly Christian" is an acceptable term.

Answer 3

I agree as you grow in the Lord the Holy Spirit convicts you.
the last answer I gave on "hot or cold" let me explain it more clearly:
the water at that time had two purpose 1.) hot water to cleanse 2.) cold water to hydrate and refresh,
but the lukewarm water was that water caught in the cisterns it turned stagnated so it made people "sick" it was of no use, see we must have a purpose in Christ not just stagnate, so if we are lukewarm (no use) well we get spewed out.
so No worldly Christan's. what ever you are be useful.

Edit: if he repented he now longer practice it, or is no longer worldly in that area.

Answer 4

A person with the title Christian who follows worldly interests and ways would not be Christ-like for Jesus was no part of the world, so to be worldly and Christian does not work for how can you truly be Christ-like and worldly? You can either be world-like or Christ-like because Christ was different from the world, so his followers, are different from the world if they are truly Chris-tlike So I would say that it is only right to say worldly Christian if this Christian is following worldly interests or ways of the world for in that way they would not be Christ-like but rather they would be world -like, and therefore a worldly person proffessing to be a Christian but not really being one, but if a true Christian is to be a footstep follower of Christ and Christ-like they cannot be worldly, can they,or should I say they should not be world like?

Answer 5

It is the very nature of the enemy to water down Gods Word and deceive.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

If you have time, take a look at this story.

Answer 6

Mat 25:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Vs.42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink.
Vs.43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Vs.44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Vs.45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Vs.46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Hebrews 10:26 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.''

As if being cursed by Him as Cain was would not be bad enough.Here at the final judgment they are now told to depart from Him and go to an everlasting fire that has been prepared for them and the one that they have served rather than God.

NOTE: Verses 41,42 This is an everlasting fire and an everlasting punishment.Not as some false prophets suggest.Hell and its punishments are eternal just as heaven will be for those who are faithful.

Answer 7

As Jesus says, "No man can serve two masters."

We as Christians are called to be "set apart from this world." Sanctified. Pure and holy. Tried and true.

Everyday we sin, but everyday we can fall AWAY from the world and stores treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

You cannot love this world and yet still love Jesus. They clash with the utmost intensity.

Answer 8

What does wordly mean? are u takin a brek frum homskoolin

in english we have worldly
and we also have wordy which is used but not really a correct term