Scripture informs us that we are to be in the world - but not of the world. These verses help explain the difference:
1Jo 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jo 2:16 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.
In a previous comment thread, a commentator wrote objections about Glenn Beck "leading" Christians because he is a Mormon. First, I don't think that he has the power to lead any Christian either to or away from true faith in Christ. Second, I do think that Beck is correct about being very wary of the "social justice" religious movement. I think that they are far more dangerous to the gospel of Jesus Christ than Mormonism. Why? Because they are disguised as a "Christian" group. At least with Mormonism, we know that the addition of the book of Mormon has been forbidden as genuine Scripture (via what is written in the Book of Revelation) because it was added after the canon of God's Word was final. We are not to add or subtract from the original Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
Even the terms "social justice" sound like they could be deemed as "biblical." But the fact that the social justice leftists use the term in a completely different way and want to create a kind of "utopia" here on earth gives their motives away; at least to those who are discerning. Rather than preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to the brokenhearted - sinners who are in desperate need of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through the Savior - their focus on social justice demonstrates exactly what we are warned about in Scripture.
What the utopia "social justice" crowd wants is the exact opposite of what Christ preached:
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Christ could not be clearer than when He made the claim that He "is not of this world" in the following verses:
Jhn 8:23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
Those who would place their own minds, wisdom and knowledge above God's written Word - the Bible; or, above God's Living Word - Jesus Christ (usually done through rejection of his sacrificial death on the cross at Calvary), are typically guilty of a myriad of errors. Whether the error they have involves a false religion, skeptism, agnosticism, atheism, heresy, apostasy, or spreading a false gospel; each and every one prevents individual souls from bridging the huge gulf between their sinful condition and the Creator - our Holy and Righteous God.
1Cr 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
The "social justice" crowd is deeply embedded with the "foolish wisdom of this world." They display their own kind of false gospel through utilizing a kind of "fleshly wisdom":
2Cr 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
When determining whether or not someones spirit is confessing the truth of the Spirit of God - the Bible tells us that "every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God," and "every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God."
Furthermore, we find that "he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."
What's more, a true believer's testimony would always include: "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."
If a religious movement of any kind does not recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world, then he/she is in error.
Note what the following verse tells us:
1Jo 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
The following is the entire chapter of 1 John 4. Take heed of all that is written!
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1Jo 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
1Jo 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1Jo 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1Jo 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
1Jo 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1Jo 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1Jo 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1Jo 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1Jo 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1Jo 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
1Jo 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
1Jo 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1Jo 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
1Jo 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
NKJV Footnotes:
(4:3) NU-Text omits that and Christ has come in the flesh.
(4:19) NU-Text omits Him.
(4:20) NU-Text reads he cannot.
Hat Tip:
Blue Letter Bible