Worldliness is a book edited by C.J. Mahaney of Sovereign Grace Ministries. The authors are contributions from the Sovereign Grace family. The subtitle asserts the ambitious goal of the book: “Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World”.
As with any book by this title there is a danger right out of the gate to make your points from the reservoir of legalism rather than gospel. Many times this comes from an unbiblical definition of worldliness. Mahaney aims to plug this hole right up front as he quotes 1 John 2.15 but then points out that verses 16-17 (1 John 2.16-17) help define what this is.
Mahaney writes, “Worldliness, then, is a love for this fallen world. It’s loving the values and pursuits of this world that stand opposed to God. More specifically, it is to gratify and exalt oneself to the exclusion of God.” (p.27)
From this discussion on worldliness in general the authors move into more specifics. And frankly this is where things get a little disjointed. I felt in reading the book straight through that I was reading 6 different books rather than one book with 6 chapters. Overall the book seemed to lack the unity of thought that leads to logical progression.
Bob Kauflin wrote a chapter on music. Kauflin is always helpful in thinking about music. However, I would have liked to see him talk about “Christian Music” that is not particularly edifying and how believers should not just be buying a label or an artist but exercise discernment. I’m convinced that the theological teaching in many Christian albums do more damage than Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Jay-Z (whom Kauflin cites as unhelpful to a Christian’s growth).
Mahaney wrote a chapter on modesty, specifically how we dress. Or better, how women dress. In this chapter Mahaney helps ladies to see how their attire can have a desanctifying effect upon their brothers in Christ. No doubt what Mahaney writes is helpful to ladies who may have never thought about this before. I think it would have been helpful to talk about what men do and do not wear as well. It is not just a female problem. Men should be dressing in a way that brings honor to Christ and does not distract or harm others.
I want to pick on one chapter in particular because I think it highlights what was good and bad in this book. The chapter I am reffering to is Craig Cabaniss’s piece on God, My Heart, and Media. His goal was to take a look at the effect of media upon our sanctification. Cabaniss spent most of his time with television and movie viewing. Let me first give you the positives.
Cabiniss demonstrates the danger of thoughtless and immune watching. By this he means that we are not mentally and spiritually engaged when we watched and therefore we become dulled and desensitized to what we are seeing. This is a good and much needed warning. Further, the author points out that the ‘true’ enemy is not “out there” but rather he is closer. “He’s not lurking behind the curtain in the movie theater. He’s much closer. He’s us. Our battle is with the flesh.” Amen. I was pleased to read this helpful warning.
Cabiniss then raises the ‘legalism’ card. He notes that standards for evaluation of what we should and should not watch are not bad but rather it is our motivation for such standards. “The solution is not necessarily lowering our standards. It is necessarily raising our understanding of and response to the glorious grace of God.”
If the chapter would have ended there I would have been more comfortable. But in coming pages we are given nearly two and a half pages of ‘discernment’ questions to evaluate if we should or should not be watching something. I truly believe that the author was trying to be helpful. However, when you give me a list, I want to obey it and I want to obey it for merit. This becomes a problem.
It probably would have been more helpful to help us think redemptively about our time, thoughts and ambitions rather than give me an extrabiblical list of questions to evaluate how godly I am being.
Remember this is to help me discern if I should watch something:
“Is sinful self-sufficiency honored? Are the heroic characters concerned for others or merely for themselves?”
“Does the program or film portray materialism as ‘the good life'”?
“What’s the view of man’s nature?”
“What’s the view of sin?”
“What is the view of God-ordained authority figures?”
“What is humorous in this work?” How are people made fun of? What is mocked?”
If we rush to answer these questions that we are provided I am fairly certain that we won’t ever be able to watch another movie again (this includes most of the so called “Christian movies” since their theology is as jacked up as most secular movies).
Finally, Cabiniss urges us to pursue accountability with others in effort to stem off sin. Accountability is often quite helpful. However, many times folks end up fearing their ‘accountability partner’ while remaining numbly void of a healthy fear of God. This does not kill the root of sin, but unwittingly increases a fear of man (idolatry).
Giving me lists and things to do to tend to create a sort of law that I measure my morality (sanctification) by. I like how the authors talk often about grace, gospel and cross, however, they do not saturate the book with the gospel in such a way that obscures the view of Sinai. I am not saying the book is a handbook on legalism (because it is not) however, I think it could have been much more clear, gospel-dripping, and therefore practical.
I have loved the other books by CJ Mahaney, however, I just can’t get behind this one as passionately and wholeheartedly.
Worldliness is available at:
Westminster Bookstore
Amazon.com
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