So do we love the world or not? “If we don’t read the text in context, we are tempted to use it as a pretext!” So said the great Gardner Taylor. How are we as Christians supposed to relate to the world? In his gospel, John told us that “God so loved the world.” Now he tells us not to love the world or the things in the world. Is this a contradiction? Thankfully, he explains.
John used the same word differently in different contexts. Think of all the ways we use the word “love,” but mean different things. We don’t love our dogs like we love our kids. Or do we? Sometimes Paul uses the word “cosmos” or world to describe the sin in the world. Specifically he mentions three things “in the world”: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Peterson translates, “wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important.”
We love God and we love the world he created. But we do not love the corruption of the world caused by sin. Sin does not come from God but from the world. Sin will pass away, but those who do God’s will last and live forever. We don’t hate sinners but we hate sin. We love God’s creation and believe in his ultimate redemption of our lives through Jesus Christ. Today, we choose to love God, but not to cherish our own sin or the sins of others.
