The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-02-06
$1,000
WHAT is 1T?
by REV. DIR. PRIMROSE,

uO We huuW WHht IL II
A correct exposition of Bibl
study will ALWAYS command the &C
quiesence of candid common sense TIL
writer recognizes the Bible as the sol
- authoritative source of information
in all matters OF religious belief anC
practice. No adverse criticism ha
ever been able to shake its sure foun
dations. The most learned Of man
kind, in all departments of thought
subscribe heartily and enthusiastical
ly to its divine origin. Therefore, -
because the question of worldliness il
purely biblical, we concern our.
selves to know only what the Bible
has to say of it.
The ordinary conception of worldli-
!. ness is not in strict accord with the
= scriptures. The popular idea restricts
it to amusements Bnt emphatically.
+ -amusements are not worldly merely
because enjoyed by the goddess. God
. less people may amuse themselves in
many ways that are not only harmless
but commendable. This is obvious.
And if true of the goddess, it is cell
tainly true of the worldly, for what
ever the worldly may be, they can be
no worse than goddess. SO then, we
are assured.y correct IN saying that
amusements are not worldly because
enjoyed by worldly people.
Now who are the worldly? The
word worldly" occurs only twice in
the scriptures and only once in this
connection - denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts Tit. 2:!2. The
Greek word here rendered "lust''
means merely desire, as when Jesus
said With desire have desired to
eat Of this Passover. Also we have :
The flesh lusteth against the spirit
land not only so but also 1.-THE spirit
lusteth against the flesh. So, then,
the lusts to be denied are evil because
they are worldly desires.
Why are worldly desires evil?
We read BE not conformed to
this world. 1t is the world then that
is wrong What is the matter with
it? Jesus said to his disciples ;--Ye
are not of this world, but | have
chosen you out of the world. Here
we are to understand by world the
race of mankind as estranged from
God as in state of rebellion against
his will. Obviously to refuse con-
formity to the world is to rel lnce
allegiance to the god of this world
and to submit oneself to God S will +
Again it is written that Christ :
came to deliver us out of this ,
p7GSent evil world. By this is meant '
this age Of estrangement as con- f
trasted with the world or age to {
the world without end, the p
kingdom to come when Gods will 6
shall be done on earth as it is in a
heaven. And so we are told: Love not o
bic world G6r the Things ol the 1
world; if any man love the world I
5be love Of the father is not in him. il
What the Bible teaches about R
vorldllness is then perfectfully
)lain:-there is nothing wrong in
he love of pleasure but everything is Fl
wrong when one is lover of pleas n
ire rather than lover of God -
Tim. 3 a.
Here then is a truth new to many 81
nd Startling: amusements and nj
ecreations may be innocent and even C
Profitable but the amused party may
~ wholly worldly. And is so because
here is in him utter disregard of CT
fod's rights and utter Indifference d
0 the glorious reign of righteousness or
Il the world to come. This is illus be
rated in the parable of the rich man
nd Lazarus. The former is charged
18th no specific sin. It is merely ne
aid that he had in this life his good ha
1ings. For all that he esteemed lie,
God this world amply provided. tn
We perceive that this definition of
'orldliness cuts wide swathe. And
ommon sense must approve it for the X
ord of all is plainly within his So
ghts when He demands of his crea. CO.
Tres respect for him as supreme as
'vereign and love for him as gra.
GUS redeemeI.
What th1n1S then are worldly ? WI
II that is intrinsically wrong and we
i that supplarts God. ar
We may be worldly then not only De
i amusements but in business. He
worldly who is so absorbed in bust
ess that he gives no thought to Gods Ch'
gifts. The gambler is worldly for th'
his whole soul is wrapt in uu
is ventures. The covetous are world 40
j, for covetousness-th greed for no
.rthly goods - is idolatry. The
so of the rich fool is a case in point.
More than this we read that it pel
" one love son or daughter more ool
an me he is not worthy of me. In
,ob no-ants than nc xvoulo -otbor rev
cir chilrden should win the favor SUI
the world than choose the favor of
ID are intensly worldly. -
And at death wUrldlineess inflicts o'ii
own punishment. In the sever ea''
ce of soul and body the soul loses 0'.
grasp on all material things ano
that it holds good. Henceforth sur
, worldling has only the Iegretful
mory of feshly appetites and l
thly ambitions. Impossible is the tisi