Do you notice that youngsters as well as some adults are copying the fashions of this world?  If the current trend is long sideburns, you can find it in the Church. If the current wave is for high or fat heels, you can find it in the Church and so on. From the clothing to the hairstyles to the mannerisms and language, one can find it all in the Church.

Now, one thing to consider is this: there will always be new, ignorant believers there and also those who are not believers. That's understood.

What is really disturbing rather, is that those who know the Word, even children of the leaders of the churches or the pastor himself or the pastor's wife, are guilty of these things. Please note one thing though: If one has long sideburns or certain clothes that they wear, whatever it is and they don't do it because they are trying to imitate the world but they usually keep their hair, sideburns or wear certain clothes always that way, then that is not to be condemned. As long as it is not following after the latest trends, constantly changing according to what the people say and what the magazines print then it is ok. Of course, it must not be something indecent and it should reflect the simplicity, humility and purity that is the mark of a true believer whose body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. No room for self-glory here and applause seeking from the world.  

Yes, the Lord looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. However, do you know that very often the outward styles reflect the heart within? Not always, but very often. How can one possibly know this?  Very easily.  When these very, "fashionable" people are giving their views on Scripture and doctrine and the holy standards of the Lord for His people, one can usually see that they are very liberal in their opinions.  Not "liberal" in the sense of being generous, but liberal in the sense of being worldly or humanistic in their approach to biblical standards and commandments. In short, the person who knows God and His call for the separation of believers from the world and its fashions, is guilty of compromising the truth for a lie.

The result: the self inflicted burden of sheer waste of time and money and energy and emotion while going in for the "latest", "attractive", trends. The greatest damage can be seen however of the disapproval of the Lord Himself of these, "worldlings."

The worldling is marked by much frivolous speech and emotionalism and compromise. No godly discernment or holy sobriety. In short, they are buying to themselves vanities and never maturing in the faith. They will never be able to lead others into, the "straight and narrow way." If by God's sovereignty they do, then they will be a source of continual confusion to the new convert who observes their wordly ways.

Do you spend your money on that which does not satisfy dear friend? Are you concerned about the way you look on the outside when you should be concerned about how you are on the inside which is readily seen by God Almighty Who created you and to Whom alone you must give account to for you life one day?

Are you, dear friend a lover of the fashions of this world? Not just the obviously, disgusting fashions, but the latest, even "decent" trends of this world.  Or are you seeking approval from family, friends and others by the way you dress or "act"?

Do you live for yourself and for this world?

Or are you investing in the eternal things with your, "unrighteous mammon(money)".  Do you spend your money on yourself and your family without prayerfully,  giving to orphans and widows? Do you spend time unnecessarily on your "hair", when you should be spending time visiting orphans and widows and the prisoner and the sick ones? How else do you expect to enter into Heaven?

34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

with the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you heavenly minded or earthly minded?  Are you dead to the world and alive to Him? Are you striving(with the Lord's help of course) for this type of character that will never fade away?

*Remember this dear one:

You can be as holy as you want to be.  You can decide today to turn your back on the world and not hinder your spiritual progress and go on toward spiritual maturity. Don't believe the lie that as a Christian in this anti-christian world, you will always be struggling to find the "right balance." Don't believe the lie that you have to dress or appear a little worldly in order to survive  in the "marketplace." God doesn't need any worldly help to get you a promotion! Nor do you have to follow those who call themselves by the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and yet quite obviously are in love with the world and its many, "sights." 

You can be well pleasing to the Lord in everything if you really want to! Please read carefully and prayerfully the following from God's Holy Word:

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Titus 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

1 Corinthians 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 4:4  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.

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1 Timothy 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

 2 Timothy 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

James 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

2 Peter 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 1 John 2:15  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.

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. {is born: Gr. has been born}

1 John 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Revelation 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

John 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1 Corinthians 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 3:18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1 Corinthians 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.