The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

Raymond Franz


I think I've mentioned that I'm lecturing at EMF Welwyn on Cults and similar subjects. that is why I've been looking at the Jehovah's Witness movement and have recently read Crisis of conscience by Ray Franz a former member of the governing body. The book came out some years ago now but it is still full of interest as it's by someone who knows the organisation from the inside and who has also taken the trouble to speak temperately and backing up his claims with well documented facts. Franz does not appear to have become a Christian in the proper sense. There is no retraction of his ant-trinitarianism or anything like that but he does reject the movement itself, believing that what God's Word says is what matters not belonging to some organisation. I notice he has another book out. What he has to say is full of interest. Of course, few JWs will read it because he has been disfellowshipped. It is frightening to think how willing people are to place themselves under false human teachers.

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