"In" but not "Of"
My stress and frustration with the world we are living in has increased tremendously in the past few years. I see, seemingly intelligent people defending things such as abortion, gay marriage, gender identity, and even pedophilia. These things, that in the past were widely understood as being wrong and immoral are now celebrated. We crossed so far past the line of morality that we now call that which is evil good and dare to call that which is Godly evil. We have gone from seeing something as evil, to turning a blind eye, to now acceptance.
When I share my frustrations with people I often hear things like, “That’s why I don’t watch the news anymore” or “I wish they would just mind their own business and I’ll mind my own.” And while ideas like that are good to preserve your inner peace, it’s not what God wants.
In John, chapter 17 Jesus is praying for his disciples. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them (Set them apart for holy service to God) in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
He does not want us to be removed from the world. He wants us to be IN the world but not OF the world. Set apart to do His will within the world. But what does that look like?
I can tell you what it doesn’t look like. We can’t tune out what’s happening around us in order to preserve inner peace. We can’t sit idly by while Satan’s lies are taught to our children or celebrated by our elected officials. Passivity and acceptance have gotten us to where we are now. It’s time to do the opposite. It’s time to put on the armor of God; belt of truth, shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-18)
Do not be intimidated by those of the world. Instead find your strength in the Lord our God. Our message must be loving, unambiguous, clear and concise. This world will pass away and each of us will spend eternity in one of two places. The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines.