8 of 27

Write now Article Tools

Without study of the life of Christ, and an understanding of Paul's letters to the churches, it is impossible to fully comprehend the concepts of Christians being called to be in the world, but not of it. The misunderstood ideal can at times lead to communal living such as the Quakers, or more commonly, a rejection of those a little rough around the edges. It is a rejection that takes on many forms, all of which are a contradiction to Scriptural principle.

The most common type of spiritual distancing, is what I like to call the "step and smile". It is the technique of a big fake smile, accompanied by lots of heart felt clichs as "Oh wonderful!", "God bless you.", or my personal favorite "That's powerful!". The whole time, the individual is stepping away from you, obviously wishing they were somewhere else. The sad part is the step and smile is most often performed in the lobbies of churches. And those most subject to it, are individuals who have decided to step out of comfort zones, take a chance, and step into a world foreign to everything they know. People coming from backgrounds absent of anything to do with church, yet hungry to know what truth is held within it's walls. All too often, believers fail to realize the amount of fear that person overcame, just to step through the door.

Even outside the walls of the church, rejection of this world takes place, beyond the Biblical standard. If invited to a coworkers house, many Christians decline because they smoke, drink, or cuss. Sometimes it's an issue of a couple not being married, or other lifestyle choices that aren't appropriate for a Christian. But are you being invited to dinner, or to adopt the lifestyle for yourself? Jesus Christ himself ate with, traveled with, even brought to others homes, prostitutes, beggars, tax collectors, a whole cross section of Biblical era "undesirables". Ask yourself, by the standards which govern your relationships today, knowing the "type" of people Christ was affiliated with, would you invite Jesus into your home? Unfortunately, for many, an honest answer would have to be no. Now think about this; how can you invite Him into your heart, to reign over your life, when you wouldn't invite Him into your home?

In it's most simplified form, being in the world, relating to others, but not being of this world, is a matter of the heart. First, your heart; does it truly seek out God's direction, and His call on your life? Second, the worlds heart. A careful study of Christ's interactions with others shows a complete spectrum from compassion to condemnation to completely ignoring some. His guideline for who received what kind of response had nothing to do with social standing, or measures of guilt and innocence. Instead, He looked at the heart of a person, the desires of that person. Think of the phrase, "I once was lost, but now I am found." Some people don't know they are lost. Some people won't admit they are lost. Others don't care they are lost. And some, knowing they are lost, desperate to be found try anything. Should they then be left lost and alone?

Learn more about this author, Stephen Surgener.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How Christians relate to others in the world: 'in the world, but not of it'?
We want to hear your view. Write now!