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 A PSALM OF DAVID. To YHWH [is] the earth and its fullness, || The world and the inhabitants in it. 2 For He has founded it on the seas, || And He establishes it on the floods.(Psalms 24:1,2)

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

16 for God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him may not perish, but may have continuous life.(John 3:16)

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

19 we have known that we are of God, and the whole world lies [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 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world; if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16 because all that [is] in the world—the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of [one’s] life—is not of the Father, but of the world,(1 John 2:15,16)

17 and the world is passing away, and the desire of it, but he who is doing the will of God, he remains—throughout the age.(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 Adulterers and adulteresses! Have you not known that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever, then, may intend to be a friend of the world, he is designated [as] an enemy 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 do not ask that You may take them out of the world, but that You may keep them out of the evil. 16 They are not of the world, as I am not of the world; 17 sanctify them in Your truth, Your word is truth; 18 as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world;(John 17:15-18)

18 if the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you; 19 if you were of the world, the world would have been cherishing its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose [you] out of the world—because of this 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 and do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God—the good, and acceptable, and perfect.(Romans 12:2)

27 religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation—to keep himself unspotted from the world.(James 1:27)

11 For the saving grace of God has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us, that denying the impiety and the worldly desires, we may live soberly, and righteously, and piously in the present age,(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 may lose savor, in what will it be salted? It is good for nothing from now on, except to be cast outside, and to be trodden down by men. 14 You are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain is not able to be hid;(Matthew 5:13,14)

15 and He said to them, "Having gone into all the world, proclaim the good news to all the creation;(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 for what is a man profited if he may gain the whole world, but of his life suffer loss? Or what will a man give as an exchange for his 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 these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation, but take courage—I have overcome the world."(John 16:33)

4 because everyone who is begotten of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcame the world—our faith.(1 John 5:4)

4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them; because greater is He who [is] in you, than he 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 See that no one will be carrying you away as spoil through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,(Colossians 2:8)

12 because our wrestling is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual [forces] of evil in the heavenly [places];(Ephesians 6:12)