"World" is one of those words whose exegesis (scriptural or otherwise) is more complex than anyone realizes when actually using it in real life; it's almost like "love" that way.

Of course, the Independent Fundamental Baptists can be counted upon to glom onto the worst part of the semantic field and to assert dogmatically that it is the only valid one, because God says so.

Haruo

PS: I agree that for performer and audience alike, the willing (or inadvertent) suspension of disbelief is more important than belief per se. Whether God sees it that way I leave to those more skilled in effing the ineffable than I'll ever be this side of the Eschaton.