The World's Message

"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." (I John 4: 5 KJV)

What is the message of the world? Who are the "worldly" preachers? What is the message of Christ? How does the message of the world differ from the message of Christ?

The world has a message and it is fervent in proclaiming and promoting it. What is the chief topic of the world? It is the world itself. The world loves to make itself the center of discussion.

"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." (Proverbs 18: 2 KJV)

The world promotes egotism, self will, hedonism, narcissism, and other destructive philosophies and ways of life. The world advises people to spend their lives "discovering themselves," of coming to "know themselves," yet the message of the bible is for men to discover God first and foremost. In fact, one cannot truly know himself if he does not know God and his word.

"...if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die." (I Corinthians 15: 32 KJV)

This is the chief message of the world. Live it up! There is no such thing as "sin" and a "Day of Judgment." There is no God! Or, if he does exist, he does not make a "big deal" out of "sin" as the bible affirms.

"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6: 14, 8: 11 KJV)

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9: 24 KJV)

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9: 23 KJV)

Thus the world "preaches" a false "peace," and a life of "selfishness" and self love, of "indulging" oneself, rather than "denying" oneself. The world teaches its "first principles," another of which is the priority it puts on the here and now, on bodily and sensual pleasures, rather than on eternity and the nobler things of the spirit.

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth." (Psalm 10: 3 KJV)

Here is another example of the world's philosophy. The world values the greedy and covetous man. But, the Lord abhors him.

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishnes." (I Corinthians 1: 17-23 KJV)

Here we see the "messages" of the world contrasted with the "message of Christ," the message of the gospel.