rumitoid

That is from 2 Timothy2:4. What does it mean? It means that most Evangelicals, and most other Christians, in this country are f**grantly disregarding Scripture. Here is the nut or crux: It is not evil for one to take care of himself. What is evil is to make the satisfaction or safety of the self more important than God or others. We are to serve God before all else (the great commandment), and the second is like it—we are on an equal par with others physically. Nowhere are we given the right or privilege by God to make ourselves greater than or more important than God or other human beings. Before government and ourselves.

Having been a "cradle Catholic," that is 70 years of church-going, personnel probing, and Bible studies, after I converted at 40 to Anabaptist, though I hold no sect or denomination as my own. Too limited. During all that time, I do not remember once hearing a discussion or sermon on "worldliness." It would not be a topic to excite most if not all congregations. And it sounds too Buddhist, or too New Agey. "No one engaged in spiritual warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life": seems almost un-American. It suggests that politics, even v****g, is of Satan or at least a misstep.

Satan's power is over all the nations of the earth. That could be very frightening when we realize he can influence men in such a way that they are not even aware that they are being influenced toward evil. His power is so extensive that he is over all the nations of the earth. Jesus calls him the ruler of this world (John 14:30). He affects people's attitudes by moving our reasoning processes toward satisfaction and protection of the self. He gives disinformation and stirs up our spirit.

A quick look at this world reveals that its loyalty is to Satan, who influences and rules it. He lies from the very depths of his character. In contrast, God does not and cannot lie, for t***h is a primary attribute of His character (Hebrews 6:17-18; Numbers 23:19).

"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." James4:4 The way of Christ is radically different than conventional wisdom and contrary to worldly values. Jerry Falwall Jr., Franklin Graham, Paula White, and too many others promote a handshake with Satan.

2 Timothy 4:10 "for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia."
1 John 2:15-16 "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Romans 12:2 "and do not be conformed to this world, but be t***sformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." A small sample.

Christians do not like this because it puts them where they belong--on the outs with society, a holy people. A Christian must be a clear choice between the kingdom of earth and the kingdom of God. A house divided will fail. In this country, it is America or God. We are "citizens of heaven": there is no dual citizenship. Neither party represents the kingdom of God, no matter how some policies appear to lean that way. We are not to get "entangled" with the finite machinations of politics, but always stay true to the eternal works of God. Love of enemy is to be as perfect as God in heaven is perfect. That is our calling, and it cannot be filled through a sniper scope or immigration bans or Congress.

Gatsby

Or perhaps it was a simple statement of fact, as to the commitment required of soldiers of the day.

rumitoid

Yes, but to a different realm of being.