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 all it contains,

The world, and those who live in it.

2 For He has founded it upon the seas

And established it upon the rivers.(Psalm 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 His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, 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 are of God, and that the whole world lies in 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 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.(1 John 2:15,16)

17 The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to 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 adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself 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 am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one.16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.18 Just 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 it hated you.19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as 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 world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.(Romans 12:2)

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.(James 1:27)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner 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 has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;(Matthew 5:13,14)

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all 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 good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?(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 so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."(John 16:33)

4 For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.(1 John 5:4)

4 You are from God, little children, and 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 to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.(Colossians 2:8)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.(Ephesians 6:12)