In the world...
Be in the world, but not of the world.
I've heard this phrase (or some version of it) thrown around countless times. It's a favorite in christian circles - giving us an excuse to surround ourselves with other Christians, living in a bubble and claiming that somehow it's biblical.
But I think there is so much depth to this that people are either afraid or unwilling to explore.
It's easy to live in a christian bubble. It's easy to surround ourselves with like-minded people in a safe and comfortable place. It's easy to live a life without stepping out of our comfort zones and into the world.
But here's the thing... how are we supposed to go and make disciples of all nations - another biblical mandate - if we're busy living in our safe little in-but-not-of-the-world bubble?
We have a picturesque view of who Jesus must have been. He took care of the poor, little children, and widows. He healed the sick. He was nice to the people other people were mean to. He performed miracles and told nice parables. But even though he did all these lovely and important things, people hated him.
Because Jesus was in the world.
Jesus didn't stay in the safe and comfortable places. Jesus went to talk to the woman at the well (a prostitute), he ate with Zacchaeus (who stole from people simply because he could), he purposely said and did things that good Jews weren't allowed to do. He walked through Samaria in order to meet people and reach people who were not like him. Good Jews took the long way around Samaria because it was safe. It was comfortable. Jesus lived his life IN the world. Why do you he had to spend so much time reassuring the disciples that they were doing what was right?
I believe that it is important to have a loving and supportive faith community. Being part of a church is a blessing that many people in the world are unable to know.
But I also believe that we shouldn't limit ourselves to that community claiming that we're in the world but not of it.
Jesus spent his life reaching out to those who were sick, looked down on, dishonest, considered unclean - everyone that good Jews avoided. Why are we, as christians, afraid to reach outside of our church walls?
The world "christian" means "little Christs." Are we acting like it?
I've heard this phrase (or some version of it) thrown around countless times. It's a favorite in christian circles - giving us an excuse to surround ourselves with other Christians, living in a bubble and claiming that somehow it's biblical.
But I think there is so much depth to this that people are either afraid or unwilling to explore.
It's easy to live in a christian bubble. It's easy to surround ourselves with like-minded people in a safe and comfortable place. It's easy to live a life without stepping out of our comfort zones and into the world.
But here's the thing... how are we supposed to go and make disciples of all nations - another biblical mandate - if we're busy living in our safe little in-but-not-of-the-world bubble?
We have a picturesque view of who Jesus must have been. He took care of the poor, little children, and widows. He healed the sick. He was nice to the people other people were mean to. He performed miracles and told nice parables. But even though he did all these lovely and important things, people hated him.
Because Jesus was in the world.
Jesus didn't stay in the safe and comfortable places. Jesus went to talk to the woman at the well (a prostitute), he ate with Zacchaeus (who stole from people simply because he could), he purposely said and did things that good Jews weren't allowed to do. He walked through Samaria in order to meet people and reach people who were not like him. Good Jews took the long way around Samaria because it was safe. It was comfortable. Jesus lived his life IN the world. Why do you he had to spend so much time reassuring the disciples that they were doing what was right?
I believe that it is important to have a loving and supportive faith community. Being part of a church is a blessing that many people in the world are unable to know.
But I also believe that we shouldn't limit ourselves to that community claiming that we're in the world but not of it.
Jesus spent his life reaching out to those who were sick, looked down on, dishonest, considered unclean - everyone that good Jews avoided. Why are we, as christians, afraid to reach outside of our church walls?
The world "christian" means "little Christs." Are we acting like it?
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