Mundo: os três sentidos da palavra na Bíblia

Os três sentidos da palavra mundo na Bíblia

Na Bíblia, a palavra "mundo" tem três sentidos principais: a criação física de Deus, a humanidade e o sistema corrompido pelo pecado que opera contra o Criador. Compreender essa distinção resolve a aparente contradição entre Deus amar o mundo e ordenar que o cristão não ame o mundo.

Primeiro, o mundo é o universo físico criado por Deus e sustentado por Ele:

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything that is in it belongs to him. The world is his, and everyone who lives there.

2 For he is the one who laid its foundations on the seas, setting it in place on the waters.(Psalms 24:1,2)

Segundo, o mundo representa as pessoas — a humanidade caída e frágil, que Deus ama e deseja resgatar:

16 For God loved the world, and this is how: he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who trusts in him shouldn’t die, but have eternal life.(John 3:16)

Terceiro, o mundo refere-se à ordem moral rebelde contra Deus, governada pelo pecado e sob influência maligna:

19 We know that we belong to God, and that the world is under the power of the evil one.(1 John 5:19)

Por que a Bíblia adverte contra o amor ao mundo

Quando o apóstolo João adverte contra o amor ao mundo, o texto bíblico não condena a criação nem o amor ao próximo. O alerta combate a submissão aos valores de um sistema independente de Deus, caracterizado pela cobiça e pela soberba:

15 Don’t be in love with the world, and don’t long for the things of this world. If you love the world, you won’t have the Father’s love in you. 16 For all the things of this world—our sinful desires, wanting everything we see, boasting about what we’ve accomplished in life— these things don’t come from the Father but from the world.(1 John 2:15,16)

17 The world and its evil desires are coming to an end, but those who do the will of God will live forever.(1 John 2:17)

Tiago usa uma linguagem igualmente firme para lembrar que adotar as prioridades desse sistema hostil coloca a pessoa em rota de colisão com a vontade divina:

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Those who want to be friends of the world make themselves enemies of God.(James 4:4)

No mundo, mas sem ser do mundo

Jesus não pediu a Deus que retirasse os Seus discípulos da convivência na sociedade, mas que os guardasse do mal. A fé bíblica não promove o isolamento da cultura, e sim a lealdade a Deus em meio às pressões diárias:

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but for you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I’m not of the world. 17 Make them holy by the truth; your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.(John 17:15-18)

18 If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were part of this world, it would love you as its own. But you’re not part of the world, and I chose you out of the world—that’s why the world hates you.(John 15:18,19)

O apóstolo Paulo mostra o caminho prático para essa caminhada: não se moldar aos padrões do presente século, buscando uma mente renovada para reconhecer e viver a vontade de Deus:

2 Don’t follow the ways of this world; instead be transformed by the spiritual renewal of your mind so you can demonstrate what God’s will really is—good, pleasing, and perfect.(Romans 12:2)

27 In the eyes of our God and Father, religion that’s pure and genuine is to visit orphans and widows in their suffering, and to keep yourself from being contaminated by the world.(James 1:27)

11 For God’s grace has been revealed, bringing salvation to everyone. 12 It teaches us to reject a godless way of life with the desires of this world. Instead we should live thoughtful, self-controlled lives that are right before God in the present world(Titus 2:11,12)

Sal da terra e luz do mundo

Em vez de fugir do convívio ou assimilar os vícios do ambiente, o cristão é chamado a agir com integridade, influenciando positivamente as pessoas e anunciando as boas-novas:

13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can you make it salty again? It’s good for nothing, so it’s thrown out and trodden down. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can’t be hidden.(Matthew 5:13,14)

15 Then he told them, "Go to the whole world, and announce the good news to everyone.(Mark 16:15)

Jesus confronta a ambição humana ao lembrar que a conquista de todas as vantagens terrenas perde o valor se a integridade da alma for abandonada:

26 What benefit is it for you to gain the whole world, yet lose your life? What would you give in exchange for your life?(Matthew 16:26)

A vitória sobre o sistema do mundo

A Bíblia não promete imunidade a conflitos e pressões externas. A segurança de quem crê repousa na vitória consumada por Jesus Cristo sobre todas as forças de oposição:

33 I’ve told you all this so that you may have peace because you are one with me. You will suffer in this world, but be brave—I have defeated the world!"(John 16:33)

4 Everyone who is born of God defeats the world. The way we gain victory and defeat the world is by trusting God.(1 John 5:4)

4 But you belong to God, my friends, and you have defeated them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.(1 John 4:4)

A resposta contra as ideologias vazias e os enganos do mundo depende do discernimento e das defesas espirituais que Deus concede:

8 Watch out that nobody enslaves you through their philosophy and worthless delusions, following human traditions and concepts of this world, and not following Christ.(Colossians 2:8)

12 We’re not fighting against human forces, but against supernatural rulers and powers, the dark lords of this world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.(Ephesians 6:12)