Serious Ministry in a World of Amusement

Republished, with permission, from Voice magazine, Jan./Feb. 2013.

“Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute?” That profound question was posed by one author thirty years ago.¹ Do you think such an assessment could still be made three decades later?

We live in an entertainment saturated society. And the danger of living in such a society is to prefer a more fun-filled deity, trivializing the one true God and minimizing His holy standards, happily entertaining ourselves with illusions of Christianity. No sense of awe, little reverence, lots of laughs. The problem is that all of this is so corrupt and unbiblical, soon (and quite predictably) the punch lines start to grow old, smiles are replaced by yawns, and yawns lead to carelessness, heresy and moral defection.

The New Testament warns us to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (ESV, Hebrews 12:28-29). It seems all too often that talk of the consuming fire of the Lord God Almighty gets extinguished by entertaining, happy god-talk.

Gimmicks, fads, and feel-good faith is replacing the real thing in the lives of all too many Christians. Knowing Christ and His Word has been replaced by the notion that ministries must be based on philosophies that are entertaining or therapeutic. The solid foundation of truth has been obscured by the bright lights of the stage and overlooked for style, image and hype. The end result is that we have fallen prey to the insights and mindset of the world of entertainment, swallowing powerful myths such as the desperate need for fun and relevance-at-any-cost.

We need a clear understanding of who we are and where we live and where we’re headed.

Christians and the world

Christ said that His disciples are “not of this world” (John 17:14). Peter wrote that we are “aliens and strangers” (1 Peter 2:11). Paul wrote that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). The Bible is clear. Those who are Christ’s are citizens of another kingdom, one which is invisible to human eyes and cannot be reached by man-made transportation.

The Greek word for world (kosmos) originally meant an ordered system² and reflects the orderliness of the world as viewed by the ancient Greeks. It referred to the world in its most inclusive sense, the ordered planet on which we live: “God, who made the kosmos and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24). In the New Testament it was also used regarding women making themselves orderly, adorning their hair (1 Peter 3:3). It is also the root for the modern word cosmetics.

The word kosmos also refers to the world of humanity in general. It is used this way in John 3:16 (“God so loved the kosmos”). It was also used this way in 1 John 2:2 (“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole kosmos”).

Also, kosmos is often used to refer to that which is organized against God and is hostile to Him, lost in sin, ruined, depraved. It is used this way six times in John 15:18-19 (“If the kosmos hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the kosmos, the kosmos would love its own. Yet because you are not of the kosmos, but I chose you out of the kosmos, therefore the kosmos hates you”). It is also used this way in John 16:33, John 17:14 (Christ’s disciples “are not of this kosmos”), 1 Corinthians 3:19, and 1 John 2:15-16 (“Do not love the kosmos or the things in the kosmos. If anyone loves the kosmos, the love of the Father is not in him”). And according to Christ, Satan is “the prince of this kosmos” (John 12:31; 16:11).

When you summarize the New Testament usage of kosmos, you see the following meanings:

• The planet earth (Acts 17:25)
• The orderly adornment of hair, clothing (1 Peter 3:3)
• Humanity in general (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2)
• The organized world system that hates God and is hostile toward Him (John 17:14; 1 John 2:15-16)

Regarding how Christians should relate to the kosmos, the last two bullet points above are definitely most instructive. Because God loves humanity in general and Christ died for all humanity (i.e. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and all humanity), we too should love people as God does and share the gospel so they can place their faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. But we should not love the organized world system which openly hates God and is in open hostility against Him. Love people. Don’t love the world’s system.

Christians and this present age

There is another important word in the New Testament related to our discussion and that is the Greek word aiōn from which we get the English word eon. This word can mean “a very long time ago” or “ages past” (regarding holy prophets

of old in Luke 1:70 and the beginning of time when the world began in John 9:32). It also means “eternity in the future, forevermore” (regarding eternal life through Christ in John 6:51 and the eternal torment of the beast and false prophet in Revelation 20:10) as well as the eternal aspect of God’s person (Romans 16:27), the eternal glory of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:21).

Another way the word aiōn is used in the New Testament is the material universe created by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2).

The final way the word aiōn is used in the New Testament is regarding the future joyful age (Mark 10:30; Ephesians 1:21) and the present evil age (Galatians 1:4) where there are worries (Matthew 13:22), shrewd people (Luke 16:8) and where Satan blinds the unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4) and Satan is a prince (Ephesians 2:2).

When you summarize the New Testament usage of aiōn, you see the following meanings:

• The material universe created by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2)
• A very long time ago or ages past (Luke 1:70; John 9:32)
• Eternity in the future (John 6:51; Revelation 20:10)
• The eternal nature of God (Romans 16:27; Hebrews 13:21)
• The future joyful age (Mark 10:30; Ephesians 1:21)
• The present evil age where Satan is prince (Galatians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2)

Regarding how Christians should relate to this aiōn, the last two bullet points are key. Christians should remember our hope is found in the future age to come, not in this present evil age. Satan has some sort of spiritual rule in this present age as an evil prince. Because of this, we better not be deceived in this present age (as the unbelievers are, who are blinded by Satan).

Dangers for christians

As you compare the usage of both kosmos and aiōn, you see Satan’s fingerprints on both. He is a supernaturally evil prince with wicked spiritual authority over this world. He has organized this world’s system in direct hostility against all things holy, in opposition to God. Plus this Wicked One has an army of invisible minions who also have supernatural power to do the will of their evil ruler. Plus unbelievers are completely enslaved and controlled by the flesh. And we believers have the residual influence of the flesh.

These reasons alone should give the follower of Jesus Christ a sober attitude regarding his life in this world!

This world is dangerous for Christians. We need to beware of the accumulation of thoughts, opinions, speculations, impulses, aims which are present at any time in the world… because there is an evil force organized behind so many of them. Yes, we have a regenerated nature. Yes, we have the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Yes, we have the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). Yes, we have direct access to the throne of the Lord of the universe. But the devil and his wicked army want to squeeze Christians into the mold of the world he has organized, and our flesh craves (demands!) that we go along in full agreement. That is sobering.

We live in an immoral, unholy world system. This present age is evil. And the messages of this world, the communications of this age, are carried forth by means of often seemingly innocuous means mingled in with other overtly perverse means: print media, electronic media, news media, advertising, and entertainment… ah yes, entertainment. We are surrounded by entertainment.

Television, internet, movies, music, team sports, individual sports, professional sports, Bowl games, playoff games, outdoor games, indoor games, organized games, intramural games, board games, video games, flat screens, large screens, larger screens, satellite, cable, surround sound, DVDs, DVRs, iPods, iPads, YouTube, Kindle, Netflix, theaters, malls, zoos, amusement parks, festivals, fireworks, fairs, parades, expositions, hunting, fishing, golfing, motorcycles, nightclubs, casinos, concerts, cottages, camping, condos. The list goes on. And on. And on. And on.

If the Christian is going to live in the manner God calls him to in this present world, he must do so in a world of amusement. And often (but most definitely not always) the amusing activities of the world system are energized by our adversary the devil. We must be balanced, careful not to adopt the angry otherworldliness of some of our Fundamentalist forefathers. But like them, we must beware, ever vigilant, constantly discerning. Because we are in the world yet not of it (John 17:13-16).

I appreciate John Piper’s perspective on Christian hedonism.

My shortest summary of Christian Hedonism is: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. We all make a god out of what we take the most pleasure in. Christian Hedonists want to make God their God by seeking after the greatest pleasure—pleasure in him.

…

By Christian Hedonism, we do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. We mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our greatest happiness in the end. We should pursue this happiness, and pursue it with all our might.³

Those words help provide an important balance.

Balance also helps us to realize it is good to spend restful times with family and friends. The Lord Jesus told His disciples to “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). I love the happiness of being with my loved ones over holidays and during vacation times! I am looking forward to being in Orlando for the 2013 IFCA International Annual Convention and sharing some fun times with my family after the convention ends and we stay in Orlando fora few extra days. I hope many of you plan to do the same. It is good for Christ’s servants to enjoy those times of rest (Mark 6:31).

Balance is also needed regarding hobbies and legitimate diversions to pursue during our much needed times of leisure. Please do not misunderstand me. Those activities are vital to keep us balanced in this world. But my appeal is for us to consciously think through the stewardship of the hours and days entrusted by God to us in our lives. Living in this world of amusement requires wise discernment in the use of our time.

Conclusion

How can we be in the world but not of it? How do live with the tension of being in two ages at once, as part of this world but citizens of another? The only answer is if we walk faithfully with Christ, regularly consuming His holy Word, living a life of personal and daily spiritual renewal in the context of regular fellowship with a community of the redeemed in a Bible-teaching local church. We must exercise personal revival in our daily experience through rigorous self-confrontation (1 Peter 4:17). And we must be serious about ministry in this world of amusement.

Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones observed the following regarding the early church and how they would meet together and what they considered important:

They meet together—for what reason? To worship God, to praise His blessed name, to thank Him for the grace which has led to the forgiveness of sins, and for new life in Christ. They meet together also so that they may know Him better and come to understand His providence more perfectly. They hunger and thirst after righteousness. They also thirst for the sincere milk of the Word, and there is nothing they enjoy more than to study the Word, and to listen to it being proclaimed.⁴

It seems to me those words describe serious ministry, the kind of ministry that serves as an antidote to the poisons of Satan’s alluring world system in this present age. That kind of ministry is substantive, not shallow. At the same time it is balanced and positive, not harsh and mean-spirited. It shines light in this dark world. It offers to God our worship, with reverence and awe. Because our God is a consuming fire, not a Fun-Filled Entertainer.

We are citizens of another world. We want to bring our holy God great glory in this present age. We need to live for the world to come, with eternity’s values in view. We need to help our friends and neighbors place their faith in our matchless Savior so they can join us on our pilgrimage to the next age and worship and enjoy (!) God forever.

Yes, we live in a world of amusement. And it is to this world of amusement that we are called, to bring honor to Jesus Christ. With serious ministry.