by C. Parker Thomas
(Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the November- December 1987 issue of the Midnight Cry Messenger.)
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
“But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
“So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
“He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
“But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them together in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn….
“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
“He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
“The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
“As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity:
“And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43.
This is another subject that is very controversial and rejected by most mankind. Mankind as a whole, especially professing Christianity, likes to believe that all men have equal access to God and righteousness. They like to believe that man’s eternal destiny is entirely up to him. They not only interpret the scriptures to support this viewpoint but they brand as heretics those who believe otherwise.
And it’s true many scriptures would appear to justify this point of view. However I believe they are often taken out of context and privately interpreted by those who want to believe a certain way. We are foolish if we ignore or close our minds to a vast array of scriptures that make this doctrine as plain as day.
Private Interpretation
Private interpretation is man presumptuously interpreting the scriptures apart from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the process they ignore the body of Christ, take the scripture out of context, and wrest and twist them to confirm their doctrines, which are often false and irrelevant. II Peter 2:20-22, 3:14-17.
So much is done today without the anointing or inspiration of the Holy Spirit until professing Christians don’t know the difference. In fact most of this generation has been begotten by such ministries. I Cor. 2:1-5. II Cor. 3:3-6, 11:13-15.
This is also why there is so much confusion and divergent opinion among those who profess to be Christians. Needless to say, this includes heathen religions and the thousands of cults. It is indeed a Babylon of confusion and division. The reason is simple, Babylon “…is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Rev. 18:2.
There is more hostility, envy, resentment and hate among religious people than we dare realize. Much of the bloodshed upon the earth has resulted from religious hate. Concerning Christianity, Jesus said, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” John 16:1-3.
Much of this has been done by Satan’s evil seed under the guise of religion. And Satan’s wrath is always directed toward the good seed. Gal. 4:29. John 3:11-15, 3:20-21. Although innocent people are drawn into the fray, the real battle is antichrist against Christ. And we can expect increasing pressure and persecution from Satan through his evil seed as this age comes to a close. Rev. 12:17.
A Mixture
It is obvious the two seeds have been mixed in the earth even as the wheat and the tares. The earth represents the natural sense-governed man. I Cor. 15:45- 47. The Son of man (Christ) sowed the good seed, which are the righteous. The devil sowed the tares, which are the children of the wicked one.
Although there are some who believe the evil seed was introduced into the human race by Lucifer having sexual intercourse with Eve, I do not believe this. The good seed and the evil seed are not products of biology.
The actual means which produces or makes manifest the two different seeds is the living word and the devil’s lie.
Both seeds come from the realm of the spirit. The good seed comes from Christ and is in those who are “…born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” I Peter 1:23.
The Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
“The same was in the beginning with God.
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4.
This is the same word that came walking in the garden in the cool of the day seeking Adam and Eve after they sinned. Gen. 3:8-10. This is the same word that tried and delivered Joseph after he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into bondage. Psalm 105:17-19.
This is the same word that became flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth and dwelt among us. This is also the one called the word of God that is coming with the armies of heaven to receive his own and to execute judgment upon the earth. Matt. 24:30-31. Rev. 19:11-16.
Although both seeds reside in mankind and both are of spirit origin, one is of God and the other is satanic. And it is because of Eve’s encounter with Satan in the garden when she chose to believe his lie rather than God’s word. Gen. 3:1-13. And the conception that took place was spiritual and satanic, not biological.
Had the Lord not sought Adam and Eve out and clothed them with animal skins, they and the whole human race would have been eternally lost. Gen. 3:21. However as a result of the fall and the subsequent corruption of man, both seeds will continue in the earth until the final day of separation. Matt. 25:31-41.
Of the first two children born to Adam and Eve, one was of the wicked one and one was righteous. Despite the fact that Eve said of Cain (the firstborn) “I have gotten a man from the Lord,” the immediate context shows us the difference in the two boys.
Cain, of his own self-will, brought a bloodless offering unto the Lord while Abel brought a firstling of the flock. Abel’s offering was accepted but Cain’s was rejected. As a result of the rejection, Cain was very angry with the Lord, killed his brother Abel and went out from the presence of the Lord. Gen. 4:1-16.
The difference in the two boys and what happened at that time is spelled out in I John 3:11-15. “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
The reference above says that “…Cain was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.” The reason he killed his brother Abel is because his own works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Cain had his own religion and expected to be respected and received as he was. Rejection was a terrible blow to his pride and an affront in which he associated Abel with his trouble. Although the Lord tried to reason with him and effect a reconciliation, Cain would hear none of it. He wanted revenge.
This reaction is typical of the serpent’s seed when they are confronted with truth. The reason they are filled with wrath when their wills are crossed is because they are children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), which they inherited from their father the devil. John 8:44.
This is also why the modern day church world has no judgment in it. Their congregations wouldn’t allow it. Their main concern is perpetuating their particular religious system with its creeds, doctrinal concepts and traditions. They will zero in on the one that would dare to defy their system which is their kingdom.
Ministries such as John the Baptist, Jesus, Steven and the apostle Paul would stir up as much wrath in our world today, including the church, as they did in theirs. Probably more because today’s generation is more hardened and deluded in their religious, ideological and political philosophies.
Anti-christ hates the Spirit of Christ and anointed truth as much today as he ever did. Since anti-christ has such universal influence and control over mankind today, such ministries would be stoned, beheaded and crucified much quicker than the prophets and the early church ministry.
Sense-Governed Apostate
I have learned by actual experience that men hate judgment and will separate themselves from the group that exercises it. However, when they go out, they continue to claim to be Christians and will associate with others of like spirit. This is the mark of the sense-governed apostate which is described in II Peter 2:10-12 and in Jude 19.
I have no doubt in my mind when Cain went out from the presence of the Lord he didn’t give up his religious persuasions. Not having other groups or rebels to run to, he started his own church or religious system. And of course he installed himself as chief apostle, head bishop or pope.
From that point in time, as man scattered abroad in the earth, the chief false apostle (Satan) of the universe has flooded the earth with his lies. Rev. 12:15-17. By far and large Satan has authored most of the world’s religions. Like the most benighted heathen religions, most of the world’s professing Christianity has been so corrupted its delusive power brings them into great bondage and keeps them from Christ.
Bundles of Tares
Because of the population explosion and the universal rebellion of mankind, the false prophet continues to have a field day gathering the tares into religious bundles. I was listening to a television evangelist who spends much time showing how wrong present day Christianity is. And he does this by constantly referring to various sources of literature other than the Bible.
Reading from these books and commenting with a derisive levity of speech in his voice he knows how to turn his listeners on. And every now and then he would get a roar of laughs when he referred to some well-known television evangelist as Jimmy the jerk or Jerry the fat.
And it’s amazing at the following this man has. Every so often he stops and popular catchy music takes over while the cameras zoom in on a large group of men and women who are busy answering phone calls from people who are making pledges of financial support. Every so often the camera will turn from the battery of people on the phones and bring him back into focus. And he will rebuke the television audience in no uncertain terms telling them to get on those phones and call their pledges in.
Every now and then he will speak to the people in some specific city or area of the country and rebuke them sharply, threatening to discontinue the program in their area if they don’t come through with their proper level of support.
Now all of this is done with a subtle intellectual flair that impresses his listeners with his education and general knowledge of things, especially ancient religious history.
It evidently works, because the phones stay busy while millions of dollars are called in and pledged to support his cause.
One day I asked myself what is it that attracts people to such a man. Obviously it’s not the word of God because he refers more to the deliberations of men than the Bible itself. Although I can certainly agree with much he says about the Babylonian religious systems, I also believe the people need the anointed word of God. John 6:63.
Being an unorthodox maverick myself, I admire a preacher who wants to please God enough to depart from the well-beaten paths of religion. However, we don’t need religious echoes, we need to hear his voice. Gen. 3:8. Psa. 105:17-20. Matt. 3:3. John 10:26-27. Heb. 3:7-8.
Recently it came to me that the people who gravitate to any particular ministry do so because they have a similar spirit or religious void waiting to be filled. Rebellion attracts rebellion — religious and non-religious. People who have a legalistic spirit gravitate to a legalistic ministry. However legalism doesn’t prosper too well today because of the so-called liberation movement which in most cases is simply a cloak for rebellion.
Because of the great rebellion that God’s word says would precede the coming of Christ, today’s generation is well prepared for the many forms of religious delusion that are coming on the earth. This is why there is such a revival of spiritualism, re-incarnation, astrology and other forms of black art mysticism. II Thess. 2:1-12.
We are living in the day when the scripture reference above is being fulfilled. Everyone is contending for something and is in rebellion against something. This always involves people and authority whom they consider to be their enemy. Much of this is done through the evil seed of the serpent, who have no fear of God in them, and can’t see beyond the veil of human flesh.
To the contrary, this is not so with the pure in heart because they look beyond the words, actions and deeds of men and see God. They also see the influences of satanic power upon mankind and realize who is responsible for the manifestation of evil. This is the outstanding difference in the two seeds.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:10-12.
Ishmael and Isaac
The next biblical example of the two seeds we consider is Ishmael and Isaac. As we know, Ishmael was the result of Sarah being barren and yet desiring children so much she conceived the idea of Abraham taking Hagar, her Egyptian handmaid, and having children by her. Gen. 16:1-6
This was done despite the fact that God had promised Abraham a son — by Sarah — who was to be his true heir. Sarah’s presumption shows us her unbelief concerning God’s promise to Abraham. However the stigma of reproach of being barren was so great she felt the end result justified the means.
Several lessons can be drawn from this. Ishmael, though begotten by Abraham, was a product of the flesh and therefore not a true heir. He could never inherit the everlasting promise or the true kingdom. Gen. 21:9-12. Rom. 9:6-8. Gal. 4:22-23. John 6:63. I Cor. 15:50.
Although God told Abraham that he would bless Ishmael, he told him specifically that this everlasting covenant was to be with Isaac and his seed after him. The promised blessings upon Ishmael were earthly and temporal and were a type of the covenant blessings of Israel under the law. Gal. 4:22-31.
The covenant God made with Abraham went beyond the tenure of the law and was heavenly and eternal and it embraced a remnant of people from many nations. Although Abraham had many sons and was the father of many nations, he had only one son (Isaac) through which righteous seed was to come.
This is what Paul is saying in Rom. 9:7, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called.”
The natural descendants of Abraham were no more righteous than ours today. In fact, many people in the Middle East are natural descendants of Abraham and, like the Jews in Christ’s day, they proudly claim Abraham as their father. I don’t know of any one place on this planet where there has been more hatred, strife and bloody wars than the Middle East. John 8:39. Matt. 3:9.
The righteous seed is Christ’s seed and always has been. Abraham’s spiritual seed, like Isaac, are all children of promise or faith. This is why the Lord called Isaac Abraham’s only son when he was told to take him into the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. Gen. 32:1-2.
This is also why Gal. 3:29 says, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
To understand the difference between the two seeds coming from Abraham we need to realize that the promise of Gen. 12:1-3 had reference to a spiritual seed and the everlasting covenant. Notice in verse two that there is only one nation, in the singular, that is mentioned.
This is the same one nation that Peter refers to in I Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
This is the church and includes Old Testament saints as well as New Testament saints. Actually, God sees his people as one regardless of when they lived and their national origin. Eph. 2:19-20, 4:4-6.
Ishmael, a type of human effort without inspiration, is completely devoid of faith. It is man building his own fire and walking in the sparks of the fire he builds. Isa. 50:10-11. It is a type of much that is done in the name of Christ or religion that will not stand the test of fire and judgment. I Cor. 3:10-15. Rev. 22:12.
Of Ishmael, the Lord said, “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” Gen. 16:12.
This also gives us a picture of the natural man or seed of the serpent. He is always fighting and at war with his fellow man. He does not see or understand who his real enemy is.
This also shows us that even those who are considered examples of faith (Rom. 4:25) can be led astray by the influence of their wives and family. This is why the man as head over his wife and family must have God-given convictions and be strong in the family’s relationship. However it is wonderful that God, despite our imperfections and carnality which can lead us astray, sees no iniquity in Jacob. Num. 23:21.
It was upon the occasion of Ishmael’s contempt in mocking Isaac that Sarah said, “cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” Gen. 21:9-10.
This is what Paul is talking about in Gal. 4:28-31, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
“Nevertheless what saith the scriptures? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
“So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”
Apostate Church
This is still true today. Let’s not forget that Paul was applying this to the church in his day. Beyond doubt, much of the church world today does not have Christ as head, and the converts are Ishmaelites or children of the flesh that can never inherit the promises.
Apostate Christianity today is so much a part of the world system that they are incapable of begetting true heirs. In their desire to gain converts, they have corrupted the gospel by making it palatable to unregenerate man. Hagar, the Egyptian handmaid, was not the legitimate wife of Abraham but a concubine who had no right or claim for herself or her son. Apostates cannot conceive and bring forth children of God. Without Christ as their head, they do not have the incorruptible seed. I Peter 1:22-23. It is true that the desolate (Hagar) has many more children than she (Sarah) which has a husband. Gal. 4:27. Without the incorruptible seed, they substitute carnal programs and methods that beget more of the same.
This is as true today as it was in Christ’s day. Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matt. 23:15.
Esau and Jacob
The next example of the two seeds we consider is Esau and Jacob, twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah. Although they had the same father and mother, they were very different in their priorities and concepts of life.
Genesis 25:21-23 says, “And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated to him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
“And the children struggled within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.
“And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”
Upon inquiry by Rebekah as to her condition, the Lord told her that two nations were in her womb, and two manner of people. This difference is made manifest as these twin boys grew into manhood and went their separate ways.
The Lord’s word to Rebekah that the elder of these two boys would serve the younger was prophetic of something of an unusual nature that would happen to cause this prophetic word to be fulfilled.
Ordinarily the elder son was the one who inherited the birthright blessing which meant he was favored above other children in the inheritance of goods, wealth and the honor of carrying on in his father’s name.
Esau was Isaac’s favorite because he was, from the natural standpoint, the more remarkable of the two boys and the one more likely to be admired by his father. As a cunning hunter and man of the field, he was the macho type most admired by man in general.
Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents. No doubt this reference to dwelling in tents speaks of the pilgrim nature and character of all who have true faith and are in covenant relationship with God. Heb. 11:8-10. Only a mother would choose such a son as the favorite.
And too, Rebekah, no doubt, remembered the word of the Lord to her that the elder was to serve the younger. In view of this, Rebekah realized that there was something different about the destiny of Jacob. Verse 28 says, “Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: But Rebekah loved Jacob.”
From reading this context of scripture, Gen. 25:19-34, and other references, it is easy to see the difference in the two boys. Esau represents the natural earth man, without the fear of God, who is more interested in gratification of the flesh than spiritual things.
This is made manifest by his priorities in life such as trading his birthright for a mess of pottage, his marriage to heathen women and hatred of his brother Jacob. Gen. 25:27, 29-34, 26:34-35, 27:41-46. Heb. 12:16-17.
However it is obvious that Esau was the more energetic and adventuresome and the one most likely to make an impact upon the world of natural men.
Although Jacob seemed subtle in some of the things he did, the general characteristic of his life shows us that he had the fear of God in him (Gen. 28:17) and his priorities were completely different from Esau’s. Contrary to Esau, Jacob had great respect for the birthright blessing and took advantage of Esau’s lack of respect and traded him out of it in a moment of weakness. Gen. 25:29-34.
However the birthright blessing had to be conferred upon him by his father Isaac. Even as the birthright blessing was conferred upon Isaac by his father Abraham with whom God made his covenant. This is why Abraham had to die to his paternal desire that Ishmael might be his heir. Gen. 21:9-12.
In order to do this, Rebekah, Jacob’s mother, came up with a plan to implement the conferring of the birthright blessing upon Jacob instead of Esau. Gen. 27:1-40. Now this would not have been possible prior to this time because Isaac had to cooperate in this, believing the blessing was being bestowed upon Esau as he thought it should be.
This was made possible because Isaac was old and practically blind. Hearing Isaac call Esau and asking him to go to the field and hunt some venison that he might prepare him some savory meat to eat and bless Esau before he died, Rebekah hurriedly set her plan in motion.
She told Jacob to get two kids from the flock and prepare them so she could make some savory meat for him to take in to his father Isaac before Esau returned from the field.
Since Esau was a hairy man and Jacob was a smooth man, something had to be done to fool Isaac when Jacob brought the savory meat to his father to receive the patriarchal blessing. They knew that Isaac would lay hands on Jacob thinking he was Esau and, lest the trickery be discovered, special precaution had to be taken. To do this Jacob had to put on some of Esau’s hunting raiment and cover his neck and hands with lamb’s skin.
At first Isaac recognized the voice that addressed him as Jacob’s but, since he said he was Esau, Isaac asked him to come near that he might feel him. Coming close to his father he felt the hairy hands and smelled the hunting garments of Esau and accepted him as his first born son.
Believing that it was indeed Esau, Isaac proceeded to eat the savory meat and drink wine and then he prayed over Jacob, thinking he was Esau. “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
“Let the people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be Lord over thy brethren, and thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every man that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” Gen. 27:28-29.
As soon as Jacob had left the presence of his father, Esau came in with savory venison and greeted his father, expecting to receive the blessing.
Fully believing that Esau had just left, Isaac and Esau were shocked, to say the least, and reacted accordingly. Gen. 27:33 says, “And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it to me, I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? Yea, and he shall be blessed.”
The experience of Esau in trading his birthright for a mess of pottage is a type of those who choose the world instead of Christ and later desire the gift of God and can find no place of repentance.
In reference to this, Heb. 12:16-17 says, “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
“For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, thought he sought it carefully with tears.”
A Profane Person
Why is Esau called a profane person? The word in the Greek, “bebelas,” means heathenish, wicked, profane (person). Despite his favored position as the first born and the inheritor of the birthright blessing, Esau’s lifestyle was more like the unenlightened heathen. He had little regard for the God of Abraham and his father Isaac.
Esau could be compared to someone who has a rich Christian heritage but chooses to disregard and dishonor Christ and family and live a life of fleshly indulgence. This lack of respect for sacred things is why he is called profane.
A Fornicator
There are two types of fornication, one is physical or carnal and one is spiritual. Like many of the ungodly of this world, Esau was guilty of both. All of us who have any conscience left know that fornication or adultery is illicit sex, or sex outside of marriage.
However sex and violence have been so exploited by Satan through man in these last days until there is very little moral conscience left in man. Public attitude has so degenerated until public figures such as politicians, ministers, movie and entertainment celebrities are excused on the grounds that man’s private life is his own to do with as he pleases. God’s word still says, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Heb. 13:4.
The last step in moral decay of any society is sexual perversion such as existed when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen. 18 and 19. This is becoming more prevalent in our world today; public attitude has become one of tolerance and acceptance. Gays have not only come out of their closets but they are marching the streets and waving banners and demanding social, religious and political acceptance. And the compromising religious, educational and political power structures are not only passive but, in some cases, are pro Gay rights.
Despite the contentions of men to the contrary, the epidemic of AIDS started primarily among homosexual men. Although it is still more prevalent among homosexual men, it has spread to the general population, including unborn infants.
Although health authorities of the world acknowledge it as the number one health problem facing mankind, there is great opposition to any kind of legal testing program. This opposition claims it would be an invasion of privacy. Naturally this opposition is coming from the Gay community itself along with the do-gooders and liberal politicians.
There has been a hush-hush denial of the prevalence of AIDS in Africa for years. And with help from some health authorities, Gays have been dying with AIDS for years in this country, and their bodies shipped home with the diagnosis of cancer.
Instead of crying aloud and condemning the iniquitous evil that has brought this upon the world, they are giving out instructions on how to have safe sex. One minister handed out condoms to his congregation. Preachers as a whole are afraid to say anything about AIDS to their refined congregations.
It is defilement of the human body that was made to be God’s temple that is bringing judgment of AIDS upon this generation. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” I Cor. 3:17. Read also I Cor. 6:9 and 15-20.
Spiritual fornication or adultery is simply a compromising spirit in man that enables him to be as equally at ease with people of the world as he is among the people of God. James 4:4 says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
God’s people are called to separation from the world system. This means separation from men, including your own flesh and blood when they are more yoked up with the world than they are with God. This is what John is talking about in I John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”