Is the 'World' Bad? + Sola Scriptura Debate
Lent Day 9- 40 Days w/ The Art of Dying Well by St. Robert Bellarmine
CHAPTER II.
THE SECOND PRECEPT, WHICH IS, TO DIE TO THE WORLD. (Part 2)
“A little lower the same Evangelist continues: "If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated me before you. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." And in another place: "I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me." Here Christ clearly tells us, that by the "world" those are meant, who, with their prince the devil, shall hear at the last day: " Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." St. John adds also in his Epistle: "Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence (lust) of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the concupiscence thereof. But he that does the will of God lives for ever." (1 Epist. ii.) Let us now hear how St. James speaks in his Epistle: " Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world, becometh an enemy to God." (chap. iv. 4.)”
Bellarmine continues to make the case that ‘the world’ is evil. What does he mean by this? My Greek professor in college, Dr. Bill Heth, was very clear that when Jesus and the Apostles speak of ‘the world’ negatively, they are not referring to God’s Creation, but the evil and corrupted ‘world-system.’ God’s Creation is still inherently good and worth saving, but it has been attacked by the Kingdom of Darkness like cancer. (Evil cannot create anything on its own, but only corrupt and malign God’s creation). This is why God is going to liberate and redeem Creation with us and our own future resurrection as St. Paul describes in Romans chapter 8. (It makes me think of the classic hymn ‘This is My Father’s World.”)
Although Creation is on the path of redemption, the world-system is destined for destruction. However, the Prince of this world system is still powerful and has a type of dominion over it that God has allowed for a time. This is why Satan is able to offer the kingdoms of this world to Jesus during His ‘40 days of Lent’ in the desert. Although Jesus was already the Lord of all things, Satan still had a type of demonic possession over the empires and nations of this world and so the devil isn’t entirely lying in this temptation. Like any demonic possession, it only occurs because humans freely give it to him. Through our rebellious pride, the human project has formed an alliance with Satan’s demonic project. It is only through the salvation and victory of the cross and resurrection that humans can be set free again to cooperate with God and His work in the world. We will continue this reflection tomorrow. (Exciting news below!)
I just attended an amazing debate last night between two godly and thoughtful men, Dr. Gavin Ortlund and Trent Horn, on the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura (You can see the debate below!) I am actually still at Franciscan University this morning as I write this short reflection. I have been able to connect with lots of other great podcasters and writers in the world of theology while I have been here. After the debate last night, I joined many of them at Matt Fradd’s new cigar lounge which is dedicated to G.K. Chesterton (see here). Matt Fradd runs the popular YouTube show “Pints with Aquinas” and was very welcoming while we were there.
I was also able to spend some great time with Suan Sonna who I recently had on my channel 2 months ago.
I will have more to share on the debate and my time here in future articles, but this must suffice for now as I need to depart for home and see Sarah and the kids again! I have the best wife who was so excited to send me off (She is a big Matt Fradd fan) and hold down the fort while I was gone!
Be entirely and forever His,
Kyle
*One last thing, I am posting weekly videos covering church renewal and revival for my parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Here is my latest video: