Friendship with the World James 4:4-6

[NewCreation435]

James 4:4-6 says
4 "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble".

Do you think that most christians try to be friends with God and also the world? What does it mean to you that he jealousy longs for the spirit to dwell in you?

 

[Josiah]

Christians (and the church we together are) is SUPPOSE to be "a Light to the Nations." Instead, we seem to think we are to be a mirror of the nations. It seems that sometimes the church is concerned with how it can be more worldly in its teachings, morality, ways of doing things.

 

[NewCreation435]

Christians (and the church we together are) is SUPPOSE to be "a Light to the Nations." Instead, we seem to think we are to be a mirror of the nations. It seems that sometimes the church is concerned with how it can be more worldly in its teachings, morality, ways of doing things.

I think it is a sign of a lack of faith. Church leaders may not see growth the way they think they should see it so out of fear or panic they turn to worldly ways of doing things to appeal to the flesh. Jump from one popular book to another in sermon series or one popular activity to another that we have to do to "meet needs".

 

[MennoSota]

I think it is a sign of a lack of faith. Church leaders may not see growth the way they think they should see it so out of fear or panic they turn to worldly ways of doing things to appeal to the flesh. Jump from one popular book to another in sermon series or one popular activity to another that we have to do to "meet needs".

Since when is the church a corporate entity that needs to see a quarterly growth to meet its stockholders demands?
It's a shame to see the church run as a business model. It makes you wonder if Jesus would gather some cords for a whip and start driving the sellers out of the church.

 

[NewCreation435]

Since when is the church a corporate entity that needs to see a quarterly growth to meet its stockholders demands?
It's a shame to see the church run as a business model. It makes you wonder if Jesus would gather some cords for a whip and start driving the sellers out of the church.

I'm not saying that everyone thinks that way. But, I have seen it in some cases. I think it is a part of our sin nature to be impatient, to want to do things our own way and not to trust God with the results. Also sadly I think some people just see the church as a business rather than as a body of believers and don't understand they may do more harm than good by appealing to growth through worldy means or watering down the message. Look at a church like Joel Osteen has in Houston. He lifts up his Bible and says there it is and then never opens it the whole sermon or whatever you want to call his talks. Pop psychology maybe. It isn't the gospel. That is why he has the big crowds