In the World, Not of It
What does it mean to “be in the world, but not of the world”?
Let’s look at a few verses this morning:
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Phariseess saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scums?“ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” - Luke 2:15-17
Here, Jesus tells us that as Christians we need to be spending time with sinners, dining with them even. If we’re not spending time with them, how else are we to tell them about God’s love for them and show them what He’s done for us?
But we’re also given some guidance:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. - Romans 12:2
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. - Philippians 4:8
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:29-30
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31
So God has given us some instructions on how we’re supposed to live and act and speak when we’re out in the world. We’re called to be set apart. We’re not supposed to “copy the behavior and customs of this world”.
After all… if we’re copying the world, the world can’t see anything different in our lives. If they can’t see anything different in our lives, then we’re not living out the life that God has called us to live.
So where’s the balance? How do we live in the world? How do we minister to the world using culturally relevant ideas and methods, without succumbing to the world and finding no discernible difference between the world and ourselves?
I think that’s where prayer and God’s Word come in handy. Pray about it. And bounce what you’re doing off of scripture.
- Are you conforming to the world’s customs and behaviors, or is you mind being transformed by what you’re doing? (Romans 12:2)
- Is what you’re doing “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable”? Is it “excellent and worth of praise”? (Philippians 4:8)
- Is it “good and helpful? Is it an encouragement to others? Or are you bringing “sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live”? (Ephesians 4:29-30)
- Are you bringing glory to God with what you’re doing? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
I’d love to get your input. Leave a comment.