In the World? But not of it. So...

So. A question I've been mulling around: What does it mean to stay away from the things of the world? It is quite clear to me that "worldly things", whatever that means, are dangerous. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17

Okay, so what does that look like? Some people focus on being "different from the world" in areas such as how they dress, or what music they listen to. Society dresses so immodestly these days, so it is important as followers of Christ to respect our brothers and sisters and reduce any potential for lust. So they come up with guidelines for modesty such as long skirts for girls, always wear sleeves, no more than 4 fingers of skin under the chin. They might think "People who dress in jeans that are a bit too tight, or listen to the radio, even the ones who call themselves Christians, they just don't understand the full truth yet. They're still too much like the world." Never listen to music that has a beat that makes you want to move around too much, because it might be seductive in some way, so you better stick with traditional hymns and nothing with too much of a beat. In fact, dancing is just altogether too dangerous, so lets not dance at all, just to be on the safe side. Acting these ways is not wrong. In fact, it's good to think about how we dress and what we listen to. But I don't think how one dresses or what one listens to actually makes a person different from the world.

Other Christians I know have different lines. They dress the same way as your average mainstream westerner, and listen to pop songs on the radio. They hang out with friends at the bar, and dance for fun with their friends. They play the typical dating game. But they do disagree with sex before marriage, and with getting drunk. In these things, they are different than the world. Really?

Think about this: In other parts of the world, and amongst sub-cultures here in Calgary people of different backgrounds and religions dress very modestly. They even cover their heads (Muslim women, or Sikh men). Maybe even wear black most of the time, avoiding bright colours so as not to draw too much attention to themselves. One time I talked with some girls at my school who were standing at a booth talking to people about the Muslim faith. I asked them about music, and they basically said that music of any kind is discouraged (although they do chant the Qur'an), because it takes away from the worship of Allah. Think back to the history of Christianity. There was a time when only monks (and only men) could sing in church, and any instrument was considered worldly. Then they progressed to the organ, considering all other instruments too worldly. There are non-Christians who do not support sex before marriage. And many people choose to remain sober.

So what am I getting at? You can never be different from all the false beliefs of the world by how you dress, what you listen to, whether or not you drink, or when you have sex. Why? Because some of the world is overly liberal, and some of the world is overly strict. The world has the spectrum covered. Before Christians even try to figure out where they sit on the spectrum, every shade is already there.

Now what?! You might be asking yourself. Well, I don't know the answers. But I am convinced that being different from the world is not about rules and guidelines. It is about something far more profound.

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the hight priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." Mark 2:23-28

Catch that? Okay, so Jesus is apparently "disobeying" the law. But he doesn't do that. He is without sin. He was demonstrating that the law was there for man, but that He is Lord over it. And even in the Old Testament, there were times when the law wasn't followed, like with the Kind David example. But it's not that Jesus disapproved of the law.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17

What does Jesus think about this whole "worldly" thing? Well, He did mention it in his prayer for his disciples before He was crucified.

"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 pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." John 17:14-17

So it's about something spiritual. Being in the world, but not of it. Protection from the evil one. Sanctification by God's truth.

Get this:

Religious leaders catch this women in the act of adultery. According to God's law, God's holy law, she deserves to be stoned to death. This was not man's idea. This was a command by God. So the Pharisees bring her to Jesus.

they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. John 8:4-6

Now I bet that's exactly what you expected Jesus to do. Probably not. What's going on here? Jesus isn't stuck on legalistic thinking. He knows just what to do, because He loves everyone involved here.

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman staning in the midst.

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:7-11

Wow. I don' t know exactly how this fits in with learning what it means to be different from the world, but what I do see is Jesus' incredible grace. His incredible forgiveness. His Love that changes peoples' lives.

So the next time you're tempted to judge someone for being too worldly, or you are trying not to be too worldly yourself, maybe ask the question: What does it mean to be in the world but not of it?