Why are you so concerned about the world and how they observe believers? The world will always hate the believers that make up the church because the church is not of this world (Jn 15:18,19, 1Jn 3:13). There are numerous problems in the life of the believer because the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, they are contrary (Gal 5:17). God is dealing in the mind and heart of the believer with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and that great pride of life, which is the great stronghold that Satan takes advantage of (1Jn 2:14-16, 2Cor 2:11).
This conflict exists because we are being transformed through the word, the cross and through the grace of God. That is the work of God and He is doing it in the heart of every believer (Phil 1:6), even the ones that are rebellious and are carnally minded or those that mind the things of the flesh (Rom 8:5,6). If you're not in a good teaching ministry, that esteems the word and the grace of God, your not going to grow or mature in the faith like you should.
We should be focused on not being conformed to this world, but rather being transformed by the renewing of OUR MIND (Rom 12:1,2)! God put a difference between the Egyptians (the world) and Israel (God's called out ones - Ex 11:7). Little by little God through much mercy, grace and longsuffering is taking the world out of us and transforming us inwardly to desire Him and to do the will of God from the heart (Eph 6:6).
Here's a good definition of the world that will give you lots of food to think about.
quote - world, aion - 'All that floating mass of thought, opinions, maxims (rule of conduct), speculations, hopes, impulses, aims, aspirations, dreams, visions, philosophy, at any time current in the world, which may be impossible to seize or accurately define, but constitute a real and effective power, being a moral or immoral atmosphere which is available every moment of our lives through the spirit of the kosmos or world of men who are living alienated and apart from God in a depraved state.'- unquote These are not the same today as they were (50) years ago, just look at our youth and what they are exposed to in this world system and the access they have to things that only existed as a concept and imagination in the heart of depraved men in some previous dark doldrums of life.
I wouldn't be to concerned what the world thinks of the church or any of the believers that make up the church, seeing that it is the world that has been designed by the devil, the prince and power of the air, to seek out and devour those that would give him place and succumb through conformity to this floating mass of iniquity, lust and pride. The world will never have a good assessment of the church of blood bought redeemed sinners and God will never allow them to be at peace with each other, no matter what kind of hypocrisy you think exists in God's church and body. That is what the sword is all about, God's word that severs us from the world system.
