“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
Yes, James writes to Christians and calls them “adulterous people”! I am sure most of them were horrified to hear him describing them so and most likely took offense at it….
It is important to understand that the bible speaks about two forms of adultery: Physical adultery (humans’ relationship) and spiritual adultery (relationship with God). The book of Hosea deals extensively with the concept of spiritual adultery and James here does the same.
Ignorance accounts for many Christians committing spiritual adultery as most of us don’t even know that friendship with the world amounts to hatred toward God and is tantamount to committing spiritual adultery with the world.
Friendship implies a degree of intimacy, in terms of a feeling of being close or belonging together, and attachment. It is a way of identifying with someone or a group of peoples.
We need to have an idea of what the bible says about the world in order to make sense of James 4:4. The bible uses the word “world” to refer to (1) a place created by God, but taken over by Satan through the fall of man (Acts17:24; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12; Hebrews 2:14) and now under his (Satan) dominion (Matthew 4:8,9; Ephesians 2:1-3), and (2) a system standing and working against God (Romans 12:1,2; John 15:18; 2Timoty 3:12).
Referring to adultery in the context of urging Christians against friendship with the world is James’ way of suggesting that friendship with the world has real potential to cut off (terminate) relationship with God!
In other words, God is here saying that He would not be a friend to anyone who is friend with the world. In fact, friendship with the world is rejecting God and betraying His love for us.
In conclusion, let’s look at the word of God to a world-friendly church, the Church of Laodicea: Revelation 3:15, 16, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
I pray the Lord will grant you the grace to have the Holy Spirit help you assess and examine your own life: Are you a lukewarm Christian? Have you lost the passion you once felt for God? Are you now neither hot nor cold? Whose friend are you? Remember, it is not God’s will to “spit you out”, but He will unless you repent today. In Jesus Christ’s name!
