March 27, 2021
John 17:14-16, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
This is the origin of a popular Christian question: How do I be “in the world, but not of the world?” It’s a question that has been answered poorly in various ways, though the question remains. Let’s go over an important acronym that we’ve discussed before in explaining the ways the world has been engaged by the church poorly over the years. The acronym is BAD. We either Bunker down, meaning we are completely separate from the world - let’s protect ourselves by ignoring the world and culture - this is bad, and not a way to love our neighbor. The second way is to Accommodate. We just become like the world to win the world - so we adjust God’s Word to match common ethical principles in our time and place - this is bad, this isn’t trusting God’s Word as the driving guide in our lives. The third is Domination. We think we can just bulldoze the world into submission to God’s principles, so we shoot for political influence and cultural supremacy, but this is bad - it’s putting our trust in all the wrong places, and does not present Christians as loving neighbors.
So what’s a better example of how to be in the world and not of the world - exile. Read Jeremiah 29:4-7 again; these are instructions when believers in God (Israel) were sent to live in a foreign land, where they were not the dominant culture. They were to care for their neighbors, live flourishing lives, and never to acquiesce to false religion. Daniel is a great person to follow in this time period. He was so well-respected in Babylon that he rose to a high government position. When he was asked to bow before the golden statue of the king, he said, no dice, I won’t do it. And he and his friends risked their lives because they wouldn’t bow down to idols - but they loved the people, prayed for them, got jobs and got married - they were great neighbors.
When Jesus says to be in the world, be excited about that. You are here on mission - and it’s a great mission. This is not your eternal home - but it’s a great home right now. And if you have one foot in here and one foot in heaven, you will have the right perspective to be able to handle whatever comes your way. Remember that if God’s promise means that you are given new life in Christ, then you are in that sense, taken out of the world and into God’s cosmic redemption plan, and then sent back into the world as a missionary to be salt and light in the natural world, equipped with the greatest news that has ever been shared. Jesus asks only here that they be kept from the evil one, not that they would be kept from hardships that plague the world; so we live our lives as dual citizens, faithful dual citizens, suffering heartache and experiencing joy, all as ambassadors of Christ. And Satan is kept from us - he’s got nothing on you. So rejoice.
Prayer: Lord, keep Satan far from me. I’m thankful that you destroyed Satan and that because we have the Holy Spirit, he can no longer have any control on me. Though he may tempt, keep my eyes on you, Lord, and help me to live in this world as a faithful ambassador of your mission. Let me live as an exile - praying for our neighbors, praying for our country, praying for good to be done in the world. As I seek my welfare, I seek the welfare of my neighbor. Help me Lord. Amen.
40 Days of Joy: Weddings. Who doesn’t love to jam out to Earth Wind and Fire on the dancefloor? Rejoice that Sam and Colleen will be married today.
