Changing Our World View

Changing Our World View
D.P. Weary


True Christians all over the world are facing a huge personal challenge. This is especially true in the western world. The issue we are dealing is one of citizenship. In the natural, people are citizens of one country or another. For us in the USA, many of us are fiercely patriotic and appreciate the blessing it is to live in the USA. The idea of giving up the life we have as citizens of the USA is frightening and abhorring. We cling to this life with great tenacity. But, this can lead to a problem for true Christians. If our love of the kingdom of the USA (really for the world and the things in it) and the life we live because we are citizens of the USA is greater than our love of the Kingdom of God, we can easily find ourselves praying and working against God’s plans for His coming Kingdom.

In the natural world, our governments and to a great extent our leadership is rapidly declining into a state of rebellion against God and chaos. We feel despair, anger, hopelessness, and sadness as we watch our nations turn from “in God we trust”, to “in us we trust”. But, should it be so? The Bible tells us that we are not citizens of the world, but are citizens of the Kingdom of God. The course of this world is clearly spelled out in the Word and we are watching it happen all around us. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we are seeing the events that are all a part of establishing God’s Kingdom on earth. So, should we be downcast and depressed, or excited and full of expectation and hope? It all depends on how we look at things, our “worldview”.

We need a “renewing of the mind”.

Rom 12:1 NASB - Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship.
Rom 12:2 NASB - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed 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.

This article by Heidi Swander is an excellent commentary on this issue. While it is directed at America, I think that it is appropriate for most the nations of the world.







A Word on Citizenship
by Heidi Swander


It's been many years since I've been able to sing The Star Spangled Banner without choking up. Given the opportunity to do it today, I doubt I could actually enunciate the words for weeping.

America is sinking fast. Chuck Missler, in his new DVD, Twilight's Last Gleaming, says, "America is in moral freefall. We are victims of spiritual warfare." Only too true.

How did this happen? For that answer, I refer you to Jan's recent radio program with Brannon Howse (you simply must hear this broadcast!!!), where they discuss cultural and political Marxism and how it snuck into our country many years ago. It explains a lot. Brannon also points to a period in Israel's history when the sins of the nation became so abhorrent to God that He told the prophet Jeremiah, "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you" (Jer. 7:16). Has America become this abhorrent to Almighty God?

We cannot know the mind of God, but Romans 1:18-32 shows a series of judgments that God will bring to a society that forsakes Him. John MacArthur expertly clarifies this passage in his sermon, When God Abandons a Nation. A glance at your favorite news source these days will confirm that our country is well down this path of destruction. We are not only in moral decline, but headed toward political, financial, and social ruin.

Our founding fathers, though saddened by this turn of events, would have gravely nodded their heads at what is taking place in America today. Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated, but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Jack Kelley, founder of www.gracethrufaith.com, recently wrote an excellent article about this very thing. The title of the article stings a bit, but the truth in the text is beyond question. In it Jack says: "According to no less an authority than our President (and he's right) America is not a Christian nation. The only connection between God and America today is that a bunch of us who believe in Him happen to live here. . . . America is a secular gentile nation that will soon be no more comfortable a home for the church than pre-war Germany was for the Jews."

When I think of my beloved America, I grieve. But God has recently made poignant to me this truth: I am not a citizen of this country. I am an ambassador to this country and a citizen of another. So are you if you are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ! Paul told the Philippians, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20).

Can you, today, get your mind around that concept? If you can, it will make a world of difference in how you view the news, how you respond to the dangers of our world, and how you look to the future.

We are actually commanded to set our mind on things above (Col. 3:1-3; but also Matt. 6:33), not on things on the earth. Now would be a very good time to recognize and obey this command!

Thinking of myself as an ambassador does three things for me.

First of all, it gives perspective to the freefall that America is in. I am still saddened, because I've lived here a long time and America has been a wonderful place to reside. But America isn't really home, so I find that I'm often looking at all that is going on with a kind of emotional/spiritual detachment.

Secondly, it reminds me that I have a job to do and that I may not have much longer to get it done! Our "special and temporary diplomatic assignment" (from Webster's definition of "ambassador") is to introduce as many people to the Lord Jesus Christ as possible (II Cor. 5:20).

Lastly, as I see all that is happening around me, I anticipate being recalled to my Home Country! There are many reasons for an ambassador to be recalled, not the least of which is the anticipation of a declaration of war. One day -- perhaps very soon -- war will be declared on this earth (Rev. 6:4ff), but before that takes place, the Lord's ambassadors will be recalled to Heaven!

So what do we do with all the horrible events that are swirling around us which seem to spell the demise of our beloved America? We pray (Eph. 6:18), we witness to others of the love of God in sending his Son (Matt. 28:18-20), we encourage one another (Heb. 10:24-25), and we look forward to going Home to the City God has prepared for us (Heb. 11:16; Rev. 21:2, and 21:9 -- 22:3). We have no idea how great it's going to be to be Home (I Cor. 2:9)! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!





The challenge for us as individuals and especially for leaders in the true Church is how to really get the mind set that we truly are citizens of the Kingdom of God and not citizens of this world? Obviously it must first be preached and taught.
Are we teaching the truth about this present world? Consider these scriptures.

Book Description Context
NKJV Mt 13:22Chapter 13 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.The cares of this world choke out the Word of God. Worldy issues and concerns fight against God.
NKJV Lk 16:8Chapter 16 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. The shrewdness of this world is not a good thing.
NKJV Jn 8:23Chapter 8 23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Jesus is not of this world.
NKJV Jn 12:31Chapter 12 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. The world is to be judged and the ruler of this world (Satan) will be cast out (sent to Gehenna, then into the Lake of Fire)
NKJV Jn 14:30Chapter 14 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. Satan is the ruler of this world.
NKJV Jn 18:36Chapter 18 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." God’s Kingdom is not of this world.
NKJV 1Co 1:20Chapter 1 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? This wisdom of this world is foolishness.
NKJV 1Co 7:31Chapter 7 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. This world is temporary and is passing away.
NKJV Eph 2:2Chapter 2 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, Those that walk according to the course of this world are walking according to the devil (Satan).
NKJV Rev 11:15Chapter 11 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" The kingdoms of this world will one day all become the kingdoms of our Lord (the Kingdom of God).

The truth is that all the kingdoms and people of this world are under the rule of Satan, they are to be judged, they are passing away, they will one day all become the Kingdoms of Jesus, and worldly wisdom is foolishness.

Book Description Context
NKJV 1Jn 2:15Chapter 2 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. We are not to love the world or the things in the world.
NKJV 1Jn 2:16Chapter 2 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. All that is in the world is not of the Father but is of the world (of the devil).
NKJV 1Jn 4:3Chapter 4 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. The spirit of the Antichrist is already in the world.
NKJV 1Jn 4:4Chapter 4 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. The Holy spirit that is in us is greater than Satan, the ruler of the world.

NKJV Jn 15:19Chapter 15 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. The world hates true believers because we have been chosen out of the world (we are not of the world).
NKJV Jn 17:14Chapter 17 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Book Description Context
NKJV Jn 9:39Chapter 9 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." Jesus came into this world for judgment.
NKJV Jn 12:25Chapter 12 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. We are admonished to hate life in this world not love it.
NKJV Ro 12:2Chapter 12 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Do not be conformed to this world. If we are we can’t prove the will of God.
NKJV 1Ti 6:7Chapter 6 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Nothing material of ours in this world will go with us into the Kingdom of God.
NKJV 1Jn 4:17Chapter 4 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. We are to be in this world, but not of it.
NKJV Mt 10:34Chapter 10 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. Jesus came to bring a sword into this world.

Book Description Context
NKJV 1Pe 2:9Chapter 2 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; We are chosen ones, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We have been called out of the darkness of this world and into His Kingdom.

Book Description Context
NKJV Eph 2:19Chapter 2 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, We are citizens of God’s Kingdom and members of the household of God.

True believers are not of this world. We are told not to love the world and even to hate it and the things in it like lust and pride. We are warned that the world will hate us because the Lord chose us out of the world and we are not of the world. We are told the spirit of the Antichrist is in the world, but that the Holy Spirit in us is greater that Satan who is in the world.

Jesus came into the world for judgment and to bring a sword. We are not to be conformed to this world. This current world is basically evil and controlled by the evil one (Satan). It is destined for judgment and destruction. Is this what we are preaching and teaching in our churches today?

Once we are convinced that we are really citizens of God’s Kingdom and not citizens of this present world, then we need to know what that means in our daily lives. To understand current events from a Kingdom mindset, we must know the prophecies concerning the events preceding God’s Kingdom coming to earth physically. In order to partner with God in this process, we need to know the “plan”. Each member of the Kingdom has a role to play in these days. To know the role requires that we know the plan. Are we preaching and teaching God’s plan for the days we are living in?

In deed we can pray, but how do we pray? If we are not careful we can find ourselves praying against God’s plan and for our own interests, desires, and fears. We can encourage one another, but with what words? The Word gives us the answer, but we must know the Word. 1 Thess. 4:13 – 1 Thess. 5:11 specifically addresses these issues, but how often is it preached or taught? Do we adequately teach and preach about our “hope of Glory”, heaven, and our ultimate destiny? We are actually commanded to set our mind on things above (Col. 3:1-3; and also Matt. 6:33), not on things on the earth. But do we preach and teach on “the things above”? And, are we trying with all our heart, soul and energies to “rescue” people out of the world and into God’s Kingdom by preaching and teaching Jesus and the good news of eternal life through His death and resurrection (II Cor. 5:20, Matt. 28:18-20)?

We are citizens of the Kingdom of God and members of the household of God. We are in the world, but not of it. Our love and loyalties now should lie with God and His Kingdom. We are in reality Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God here on earth. From Webster’s definition, an ambassador is “an official envoy ; especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.”
Is this the “mind set” or worldview of those professing to be Christians today? Getting, then preaching, teaching, and modeling this worldview is the challenge of the leaders in the true Christian communities today.

We all need a renewing of our minds!
Rom 12:1 NASB - Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship.
Rom 12:2 NASB - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed 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.