I have often read or thought I have read in spiritual writers that we are the earth.
What are the Biblical passages that are used to explain “we are the earth?”
Thanks!
Jim:
Perhaps you are talking about the human race being called
the world? The world is a term referring to the beliefs of those who are against God, against His Church, and against Christianity:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
(1 John 2:15-17)
So, singing, “We are the world,” around Christmas time is not necessarily a good thing, if by it one means, “We are for everything that the Catholic Church is against.” In the sense that Saint John intends, Catholics are not of the world but of the family of God.
But don’t misunderstand–we can hate the anti-Catholic beliefs of people in the world, but should never hate those who are deceived by these beliefs. The people of the world–no matter what their beliefs–we should always love.
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
–Jesus (Matthew 5:44-45)