“What is the world,” I asked the internet: “the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.”

Following that same link you’ll find among a host of interpretations Wikipedia’s excerpt: “In its most general sense, the term “world” refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is.”

I investigated Wikipedia’s article link more in-depth: “In Christianity, the term often connotes the concept of the fallen and corrupt world order of human society, in contrast to the World to Come. The world is frequently cited alongside the flesh and the Devil as a source of temptation that Christians should flee. … In Eastern Christian monasticism or asceticism, the world of mankind is driven by passions. Therefore, the passions of the World are simply called “the world”. Each of these passions are a link to the world of mankind or order of human society. Each of these passions must be overcome in order for a person to receive salvation (Theosis). The process of Theosis is a personal relationship with God.”

It appears the internet “knows” the gospel, although; I don’t exactly align with Wikipedia’s semantics, but it’s useful. For instance: the passions of the World are simply called “the world”. The passions are what the apostle John described, and I’ve diagramed as three mechanisms—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

1 John 2:15-17
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. 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. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Experience

Whenever I consider all that is in the world, as though holding the world in the palms of my hands, everything accessible to experience the fullness of life and pleasure of it, every place available to travel without boundaries. What an inescapable contraption—the lust of my flesh. I can feel a force of desire for ultimate success and freedom to food and sexual encounters across the globe. I will have wealth and multiply love as the kings of old. I will live like a god in the wisdom of vanity, all is vanity. I love this world, and this world loves me! I will invent and create into this world things upon which generations will remember my name.

If I were your friend saying the above to you, how would you respond? Is there anything wrong with what I’ve said? If so, define wrong.