The Danger in Worldliness
David Wilkerson warns against the dangers of worldliness and emphasizes the necessity of love in the Christian community.
David Wilkerson warns against the dangers of worldliness infiltrating the church, emphasizing that a distorted gospel promotes acceptance without the need for repentance or personal change. He highlights Jesus' admonition to walk in the light, cautioning that seeking worldly acceptance can lead to a darkening of one's spiritual light. Wilkerson stresses that true love, as commanded by Christ, is demonstrated through actions and is essential for the church to effectively reach a lost generation. He encourages believers to seek a baptism of love to strengthen their relationships within the church and to draw others to Christ.
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Many voices in the church today say Christians must show a new kind of love. They are talking about a love in which biblical truth must bend with the times. According to their gospel, no personal changes are necessary when one accepts Christ. Indeed, no repentance is needed. Rather, the goal in presenting this gospel is simply to break down any barrier that could be considered a stumbling block to a person's acceptance of Christ.
Is it possible that we as Christians have allowed the fullness of Christ's light to become partly darkened? Jesus warned about the danger of allowing our light to become darkness. "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going" (John 12:35). According to Jesus, any desire for worldly acceptance causes our light to darken.
You can easily find acceptance in the world. People will call you friend, admire you, even love the kind of gospel you preach. How? It happens when you allow the ways of the world to seep into your soul. You can cast off the reproach of Christ, convincing yourself you can mix with darkness and still be a light to the world. But it does not work!
At the Last Supper, Christ told his disciples, "A new commandment I give to you" (John 13:34). This new commandment was not about methods of evangelism. He had already told him they were to go into all the world preaching the gospel and assured them they would need the Holy Spirit's help to fulfill that command. So what was this new commandment? Jesus told them, "As I have loved you ... also love one another" (13:34).
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (13:35). Our love for one another in the church must be demonstrated in our deeds; only love in action will get the attention of a lost generation. I encourage you to ask the Lord for a baptism of love so that you can minister to your Christian brothers and sisters and also bring others to him.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The call for a new kind of love in the church
- The misconception of acceptance without repentance
- The danger of compromising biblical truth
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II
- The warning of Jesus about darkness
- The impact of worldly acceptance on our light
- The futility of mixing with darkness
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III
- Understanding Christ's new commandment
- The importance of love in action
- The role of love in witnessing to the world
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IV
- The necessity of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the command
- Praying for a baptism of love
- Ministering to both believers and non-believers
Key Quotes
“A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.” — David Wilkerson
“As I have loved you, you also love one another.” — David Wilkerson
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Seek to strengthen your love for fellow believers through practical acts of kindness.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in maintaining your light amidst worldly influences.
- Reflect on how your actions demonstrate Christ's love to those around you.