The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Love not the World?

Actually, there is much benefit to quoting the near context, which would include that which precedes and that which follows what you have supplied:

The focus of James isn't directly upon external things. In fact, many have erred in doing just this, e.g., modern Fundamentalists such as Bob Jones and evangelicalism in general. I'm sure you are familiar with this type of Pharisaism which says, "Thou shalt not: dance, play cards, watch TV or movies, go to plays, drink alcohol, use tobacco, etc., etc.," ad nauseam. This is indeed Pharisaism for it thinks by abstaining from specific "things" you are thus more holy.

Another extreme on the other hand is that of Monasticism. This is the view that one must escape the "world" by totally secluding oneself from it where one can spend all the day and night meditating on "spiritual things"; denying self of any and all so-called worldly influences and pleasures particularly.

But James, like his Master is focusing upon something far more fundamental; the affections. Thus, what the apostle is speaking of is where one's 'heart' is in regard to this world. A vivid example of one whose affections were set on this world, the philosophies of this world and the things of this world is Lot's wife. The particulars are spelled out for us to glean beginning in v. 3, where unanswered prayer is due to one asking "that ye may spend it in your pleasures", i.e., to satisfy oneself, aka: covetousness, hedonism, etc. To find one's fulfillment in this world, to be in agreement with the world's philosophy (of self gratification), and/or through the accumulation of having things, is thus to be an enemy of God. This enmity, James says, is to be an adulteress; not literally of course, referring to having an extra-marital affair with one's husband or wife. What this is referring to its predominant usage in the OT, i.e., to forsake God and set one's affections on another... anything other than God Who has betrothed Himself to you. In the NT we can say of professing Christians who find friendship with the world, they are guilty of being adulteresses of Christ, their Bridegroom.

Here's another passage which sheds the same light on this matter, written by Paul:

There is much of the same taught throughout Scripture, e.g.,:2Co 6:14; Ex 34:16; Le 19:19; De 7:2; 22:9-11; Ezr 9:1-2,11; 10:19; Ne 13:1-3,23-26; Ps 106:35; Pr 22:24; Mal 2:11,15; 1Co 5:9; 7:39; 15:33; 1Sa 5:2-3; 1Ki 18:21; 2Ch 19:2; Ps 16:3; 26:4-5,9; 44:20-21; 101:3-5; 119:63; 139:21-22; Pr 29:27; Joh 7:7; 15:18-19; Ac 4:23; 1Co 10:21; Eph 5:6-11; 1Jo 3:12-14; Pr 8:18-19; Ro 13:12-14; Eph 4:17-20; 5:8-14; Php 2:15; 1Th 5:4-8; 1Pe 2:9; 4:2-4; 1Jo 1:5-7

The passage in 1John is obviously saying the same thing as James but in different words. Again, these texts do not prohibit living IN the world but rather the becoming OF the world.

In His grace,