This is the final part of a three-part series on the identity and manifestations of the spirit of the world. It is imperative that we understand this so that we can strive to do what St. Paul advises us in Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
PRIDE OF LIFE
Eve wanted to be like God so she succumbed to the spirit of the world and fell for the devil’s lie. Pride is the unrestrained and improper appreciation of God’s worth, and a proud person is a thief because s/he forgets that s/he owes his or her life to God. A proud person does not know who s/he truly is as he does not fully understand that s/he owes all s/he is because of the goodness of God. If you do not know yourself, how can you know God? God is within all of us, and this lack of knowledge about one’s inner self exposes a person to the spirit of world showing itself in the pride of life.
We should become holy and not only appear holy. We should also avoid fake humility where we speak negatively about ourselves or pretend that he or she is humble just so others can appreciate us. When we realise that all is circumstance, opportunities and time, then we rise up against this spirit of the world and start dismantling the pockets of pride in our lives.
DISOBEDIENCE OF GOD’S LAW
Have you ever heard this subtle voice which suggests that what you are doing is not as bad as you imagine? Such tactics can be traced to the serpent’s comment to Eve in Genesis 3:1 when he craftily asked “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’?” We should take God’s words and laws seriously and be careful of such suggestions. Doing the barest minimum of attending church on Sundays and coming to occasional prayer meetings is a sin if we do not honour our fellow human beings nor treat them as we would want to be treated. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus commanded: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” This was reiterated by St. Paul in Romans 10:12-13: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
ABUSE OF CREATED THINGS
A person with a heightened perception of him or herself forgets that there is a natural order to things which was set by the one who created him or her. As a result of this perception, s/he engages in actions contradicting this natural order. The stance of the Catholic Church on the natural order of things has been criticized over the years and labelled as too rigid and anachronistic but it remains what it is – we have no right to disrupt the natural order of things. Technological advancement and the idol worship of smartphones have invaded our humanity. We also sin when we abuse the natural environment, over which we were made trustees and custodians.
WAYS TO COMBAT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD
- Have a prayer schedule
- Pray with purity of intention
- Do well to keep chaste
- Practice always custodia occulurum (custody of the eyes)
- Practice modesty
- Purify your social contacts by associating with persons who are not in a rat race but who are more focused on things that are eternal. St. Paul tells “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
- Stop moral pervasiveness
- Engage in continuous self-mastery / discover weak points
- Examine your conscience daily and set targets for next day
- Engage in acts of mortification by denying yourself of pleasures you should forgo to prune the senses and keep the sense appetite in check.
- Renunciation of will – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”- Romans 12:2
- Study Scripture and other holy books or religious texts
- Detachment form material things and seeking God first which prompts God to give us all we need. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
CONCLUSION
The spirit of the world is not far from us on this spiritual journey, so we need to step up! Begin by praying to God – make a prayer schedule, and soak yourself in God’s word whenever you encounter temptation. Take solace in the words of Romans 5:20 – “but where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” Be conscious of the spirit of the world whose aim is to prevent the restoration of man’s harmony and fellowship with God, and tap into God’s grace which is available for all who believe.
May the Almighty Father fill us with his Spirit and equip us to stand firm and overcome the spirit of the world in all its manifestations. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ndidi Edeoghon is a highly exposed and seasoned international lawyer. She holds a degree in Law and French from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a Masters (LL.M) in International Dispute Resolution from the University of London.
She is passionate about the youths, and her passion led her to form Ambassadors Initiative For Youth Development and Conflict Resolution, a non-governmental organisation which promotes the ideals of the UN in schools and helps groom future international leaders (www.una-nig.org). She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, lectures part time at the University of London, and is currently pursuing a PhD in International
Law.
