Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World

November 3, 2008

In a day where U2 is considered a Christian band with profound theological lyrics in their songs, we need a book like Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. (C. J. Mahaney, ed., with a foreword by John Piper. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008. 191 pp.)

You may not change your view on U2 after reading this book, none the less, Worldliness is a gift to the church and a must read for anyone open to evaluating how gospel-centered their consumption of media, clothes, etc. is.

From the forward by John Piper: What does it look like when the blood of Christ governs the television and the Internet and the iPod and the checkbook and the neckline? Most people have never even asked this question, let alone answered it. The idea that lines might come into being freely and lovingly (and firmly) as the fruit of the gospel is rare. That’s why this book is valuable.

The book has six chapters:

1. C. J. Mahaney, “Is This Verse in Your Bible?” [1 John 2:15]
2. Craig Cabaniss, “God, My Heart, and Media”
3. Bob Kauflin, “God, My Heart, and Music”
4. Dave Harvey, “God, My Heart, and Stuff”
5. C. J. Mahaney, “God, My Heart, and Clothes“
6. Jeff Purswell, “How to Love the World”

Do Not Love the World — 1 John 2:15-16 is at the heart of this book

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. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

In addition to purchasing the book (or if you’re not ready to purchase it yet), you can download extended excerpts from the book for free. Download the foreword by Dr. Piper and the opening chapter by C.J. (“Is This Verse in Your Bible?”) as a PDF here. And recently a series of excerpts on modesty was posted, from chapter five (titled “God, My Heart, and Clothes”). Read this entire chapter online here.

C.J.’s message from the 2002 New Attitude Conference, “Do Not Love the World” (1 John 2:15) is another tool for resisting the sin in our fallen world—and in our own hearts. (This conference message eventually grew into the first chapter of Worldliness.) You can watch, listen to, or download the message at C.J.’s sermon archive.

Posted in Bob Kauflin, Book Review, C. J. Mahaney, Crossway, John Piper