As social issues heat up in America, some in the Church sadly reflect the thinking of unredeemed people, not the truths of God’s Kingdom. We have been drowning in a pool of deception, and that deception has begun to influence the thinking of Christ’s followers.

The context of the following verses is the quarrels that emerge in the Church and that divide us against each other. In some cases, division is necessary and will bring greater clarity to the Church, where some have become too friendly with the world and its mindset.

James asks, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1). What makes this an evil thing is choosing to follow earthly principles at the expense of following the truth.

“Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

This friendship with the world can be translated as a “fondness” for the world and its way of thinking. We can end up sounding like we are reading from the prepared script of our preferred news source, rather than following the truth of God expressed in His word.

There is a solution to this misdirected friendship with the world: “So, humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world” (vs. 7-8).

The ways of the world have always run contrary to God’s truth. Those who have become fond of the world’s way of living and thinking will not resist the devil. Their loyalties will be divided from God’s word. Because of those divided loyalties, the enemy will remain among us, dividing and separating God’s people.

As it is in all things of our spiritual life, we need to resist hell’s invitation to becoming too cozy and comfortable with his lies and those who promote them.

Only a humble heart can resist these assaults from the devil. Humility becomes our greatest weapon against accepting the devil’s errors. In our resistance, it will cause the devil to flee from those who have remained loyal to God’s truth and refused to allow their loyalty to God to become divided.