Worldliness is when I absorb and embrace a way of thinking and living that is not submissive to God but is instead contrary to God. Worldliness is what the apostle John calls “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). In our experiences in life, we are always meeting worldly thinking and worldly influence and worldly pressure. This worldliness aims to access our own souls and, sadly, too often gets in. The Bible teaches us to flee worldliness. To flee means to run away as far as possible and fast as possible. John writes to Christians, “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15). Paul urges in Romans 12:2, “Be not conformed to this world.” What both mean is that we are to live in such a way that we reject all sinful ways of thinking and living influenced by the devil. That is to flee worldliness. So how do we do that? In the first place, let us seek to be renewed in our minds. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If we are not going to be conformed to this world but truly transformed, then we have to experience mind renewal through exposure to and absorption of God’s Word, all blessed to us by the Holy Spirit. If we would flee worldliness, how diligent we should be in careful and prayerful reading and hearing of Scripture. Already this point can be a test for us. If we are not getting new minds, very likely we are very worldly. Let us start with this basic, most fundamental point: “by the renewing of your mind.” So open the Bible. Read it with attention and prayer. Listen to it preached. Think over it constantly and discuss it with others. That’s the start.

Fleeing Worldliness, The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible, How to Live as a Christian