Quit Dating the World

I think it’s safe to say that Christians who struggle with unrepentant broken areas, and who try to live in their pre-conversion lifestyle as well as their “in Christ” life, prevent themselves from experiencing soul healing. We simply cannot have it both ways! 

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, ”Old things pass away and all things become new.” When it comes to serving Jesus, it’s an either/or decision. Jesus’ indictment against the Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:15-16 deals with lukewarmness, an unfortunate characteristic of the end-time Church. He says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Uncommitted Christians, who try to live in both worlds allow their broken areas to define their walk. They live a double-minded life. Double-mindedness leads to instability, which the enemy uses to create confusion, strife and eventual fall-out.   

I did not date a lot in high school or college. Perhaps the biggest reason was my shyness. It was hard for me to even talk to girls, much less ask them out for a date. Second, I was particular! I refused to date a girl I wasn’t willing to marry. When I was a senior in high school, a precious pastor’s wife said to me regarding my future mate, “Rog, don’t ever settle for second best.” I never forgot her wonderful counsel.

It’s not that I was perfect or even “a catch.” I knew that becoming unequally yoked with an unbeliever would eventually pull me down spiritually. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be mismatched with unbelievers, for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness?” I wanted to marry a girl who really loved Jesus. I prayed for a girl who possessed high morals and a calling on her life to ministry. I wanted not only a companion for life but someone who understood that “the two shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). These words refer not only to sex but to a shared life in every area. Lori and I married forty-eight years ago after we quit dating others. 

That’s what happens when we become Christians. We quit dating the world! After we invite Jesus to be both Savior and Lord, we come under new ownership and management. Again, we no longer “date the world.” We forsake the world! Always remember, we may be in the world but we’re not of the world. The world’s values, beliefs, and attitudes no longer determine our conduct. I no longer do what the world says is fun. My new Master shows me a more righteous way – the road to peace, joy and happiness. The Scriptures describe the kingdom of God as “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).

We stop dating others after we come to Jesus. He becomes and remains the true love of our life. That’s why it’s impossible to serve “both God and money” (Matt. 6:24), for if we do, we will grow to hate one or the other. This principle refers to not only money, but to whatever or whoever attempts to steal our affections away from Jesus. Make no room for compromise in your life. You can’t date the world and love Jesus, too. The pull of sin is strong, and when we compromise our righteous standards, we begin traveling down a slippery slope toward compromise and defeat. 

Are you married to Christ? Then quit inviting lesser pursuits out for a date. You’re already taken!

Loving Jesus while continuing to date the world factors into the broken areas of the true believer’s life. James tells us that “double mindedness produces instability” (1:7). The enemy of our soul takes advantage of such instability by creating division, quarrels, wide scale disagreements and judgmental attitudes. All of this leads to lukewarm living. God’s love solidifies relationships and easily recognizes anything that may be counterproductive to spiritual health. When believers compromise the essentials of the faith and refuse to oppose sin as revealed in the Scriptures, then brokenness results and even accelerates. When it comes to serving Christ, we dare not try to live with one foot in the church and the other foot in the world. These are the folks I describe as “miserably saved.” They may be on the road to heaven but they’re not enjoying the trip!