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.

Yesterday I led a couple songs during the funeral of Mark Walker, a dear friend from a church I used to be a pastor at years ago. It was one of the most joyful memorial services I’ve been to, due largely to the glowing countenance of Marks’ widow, Marie. Everyone who honored Mark also took time to honor Marie for her joy, faithfulness, servant heart, and trust in God. She cared for Mark around the clock for the last two years as he tried to make it through a second liver transplant. Mark’s fight is finally over. He’s rejoicing with his Savior.

At the funeral, I had the privilege of singing a song called It Is Not Death to Die. I wrote it a while back, based on a hymn by Henri Malan (1787-1864) that was translated into English by George Bethune (1847). I’ve tried numerous renditions of the chorus. A previous version went like this:

O Jesus, Author of all life
Your chosen ones can never die
You were cursed for us to bring us to your side
And it is not death to die.

Since funerals are great opportunities to help non-Christians understand their perilous position outside of a saving relationship with God the Father through Christ, I wanted the song to clarify that Jesus was cursed for those who trust in him, not everyone in general. Only Christians can truly sing “it is not death to die.” I also wanted the song to explain that our hope for overcoming death is rooted in our union with Christ by grace through faith. So I changed the words to this:

O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has pow’r to save
All who trust in you will in your mercy find
That it is not death to die.

“It is Not Death to Die” is one of the songs that will be on the next Sovereign Grace release, Come Weary Saints, due out in April. Typically a song about death wouldn’t fit on a “worship” CD. But Come Weary Saints wasn’t designed to be your typical worship CD. Here’s a video where I explain our thinking behind it.