Friends of the World and with God?

In the past week I have been reading Holiness by J.C. Ryle.  It is an excellent read and I expect a book review will come around shortly, but today I would like to focus on a point that J.C. Ryle brought out about Growth.  Growth towards the image of God is naturally growth away from the things of this world.  We also cannot keep for ourselves a constant friendship with the world.  We must constantly be growing in the companionship of those who have been made well by Christ’s blood, if we are ever to be Christ’s messengers to the sick.  J.C. Ryle made a very good point about the company we keep as believers:

“Disease is infectious, but health is not.”

I have heard many illustrations on the influence of bad company on the believer, but none struck me so soundly as this.  J.C. Ryle hit the nail right on the head.  Our sinful nature will not be completely vanquished until we see the face of our Saviour.  Thus the company of evil men gives strength to our sinful nature and makes it harder to grow in sanctification. Our spirit of righteousness cannot draw out the “spirit’s of righteousness” in others, because unbelievers do not possess this second nature.  They have one nature alone: a sin nature.  The influence that the world has on believers detached from the church come through many means: friends, television, and the internet all contribute to fuel our inward corruption.  The Bible is most assuredly not silent on this issue.

” Evil communications corrupt good manners.”  1 Corinthians 15:33

” The friendship of the world is enmity with God.” James 4:4

Naturally, we cannot remove ourselves from the world.  It is impossible to both share the truth of the gospel while keeping a life that does not come in contact with sin.  Jesus ate with the sinners and tax collectors.  Naturally, He, unlike us CANNOT be influenced by the sin nature of his companions, for the same reason that sinful companions CANNOT be made healthy by our presence.  Jesus has only a righteous spirit and no sin nature that drives him (not to say that He was not tempted in the flesh, but it was His very nature to resist that temptation).  It is important for us to find a balance of spending time in the world, but not befriending it.  And most importantly we must rest in Christ and benefit from the fellowship of His church.  To be friends of the world and of God is impossible.  I pray to God that neither you, dear reader, if you be covered by His blood, nor I will find ourselves in a situation where our allegiance is questioned.