INTRODUCTION

    Any  true  believer  worth  his  salt must be deeply concerned 
about his responsibility in relationship to the world in  which he 
is  living.  He must  realize that his  salvation resulted from an 
act  of completely undeserved love by  his Savior.  Because he has 
become  a  citizen  of  Christ's  Kingdom,  he should want to make 
certain  that he is  living in obedience  to this King.  He should 
know that Jesus saved him for Christ's glory.   But he should also 
know  that to  live as  a saved  believer to  the glory  of Christ 
involves obligations to the world in which he presently exists.

    As mankind becomes more bewildered, and as sin multiplies, the 
believer  is even  more pressed  to make  certain he is faithfully 
discharging his  duty to  God, in  relationship to  Him, all other 
truth, phenomena, and reality will pass away.

    But can he  know precisely what his mandates with reference to 
the world actually  are?  Can these  be articulated in  such plain 
fashion  that he will  have precise guidance  in such common place 
areas  of  his  life  as  choosing  his vocation, and spending his 
money?

    In general, we could probably say that two answers are offered 
to the question of the believer's task in the world.  The first is 
that  he is first  of all a  witness of the  Gospel of Christ, and 
this  is  to  be  the  motivating  philosophy  undergirding  every 
decision.   As  a  first  responsibility,  he  is not to be at all 
concerned  about the other  spheres of life  such as governmental, 
scientific,  business, etc.   As long  as he  is witnessing, he is 
within the will of God.

    The second is that which is held by many, and  which indicates 
that while we are witnesses, we do have dominion over this  earth.  
We are to bring  it into subjection in the name  of Christ.  Thus, 
we are to become scientists, statesmen, philosophers, and building 
contractors that  we might  assist in  building a  better world in 
which to offer  the Gospel.  We are  to rule over every  aspect of 
this creation as God's vice-gerund.

    Which  answer  is  the  more  Biblical?   Or  is there another 
answer?  We must go to the Bible to find our solution.  Only it is 
trustworthy and authoritative.

    This  is  an  important  question.   Upon its answer hangs the 
whole philosophy of  the education of  our Christian youth.   Upon 
its  answer  depends  the  nature  of  each Christian's livlihood.  
Indeed, to its answer the whole cause of Christ in the world today 
relates.

    In this  paper we shall  attempt to find  the Biblical answer.  
In  order  to  find  this  we  must begin at the beginning--in the 
Garden of  Eden.  For it is  there that man is  first shown to us.  
We shall  examine him in  his world of  long ago, and  in so doing 
shall discover our responsibility to today's world.  

    As we  search for these answers we shall also get a fresh look 
at  the  entrance  of  sin  into  the  world.   We  shall not only 
determine  the timetable of  Lucifer's fall into  sin but also the 
certainty of his destruction.

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