Series: Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n Roll
In the world but not of the world
John 17v6-21
In this introduction to our four-week series, I want to look at general principles, and not take the risk of jumping straight in to potentially legalistic do's and don'ts.
In John 17 we see Jesus praying for his disciples. Note that in v14 they are not of the world, but he also prays that they not be taken out of the world.
What is the world?
Oliver Cromwell said "anything that distracts from Christ". In scripture the most common word used is cosmos (the other common word is eon). Cosmos has three meanings. In Matt 13v35 it is used to refer to the material world, in John 3v16 it is used to refer to the people of the world and finally it is used to refer to worldly affairs.
Paul uses the term 39 times, Mark 9, Luke 3 times. If we really want to get to grips with the scriptural view of the world we need to look at John though, who uses it 105 times. It is a word which John is keen on using and expounding.
What is the world system? In Genesis 1v1 God created the heavens and the earth, and it was all good. After the fall we find the term used is "the world" rather than "the earth". A corrupt world rather than the perfect earth. We are looking forward to Jesus' return and a final perfect kingdom. That kingdom has begun now, but its ultimate fulfilment and completion will be at the end of time (cf Daniel 2). Rev 12v9 speaks of the dragon which is thrown down to earth and a final defeat of Satan. The "World" is an enemy of God. The world system is under judgement and there is a mind behind the world system - Satan, the prince of this world.
Where do we fit into this world then? John 8v33 makes an interesting statement "you are from below, of this world" as contrasted with where Jesus is from (using the greek word ek, literally "out of"). Jesus tells us that we are called out of this world system, we don't really belong there any more. Col 1v13-14 reminds us that we are delivered "out of" the authority of darkness and into the kingdom of His Son.
The world system is one where there is no interest in spiritual things - unless born from above you are completely unaware of the truth. 2 Cor 2v4 explains this clearly. Those who live in the kingdom of the world think they are free but they are actually ensnared by Satan until such time as Jesus frees them. The exodus is a tremendous picture of the mighty hand of God rescueing Israel from Egypt through the sacrifice of a lamb. Unfortunately the israelites kept looking back to Egypt and wistfully wishing they were still in their old slavery!
Do we sometimes face a similar desire to be back in the world? Do we forget we are bought at a price? 1 Sam 8 is striking too - the people turn to God after he has delivered them, and then suddenly turn back to the nations and want to do things their way instead of Gods way! Historically some groups of Christians have attempted to withdraw from the world, but we are called to live in the world. Peer pressure is a real threat to our distinctiveness. We are easily drawn by a desire to "fit in".
We want to avoid the kind of approach which used to be common in the church where we would simply say "no" to everything that was going on. It is much more appropriate to take the approach popularised recently through little bracelets with the initials WWJD - What Would Jesus Do? How can we act in the kind of way that Jesus would have done when faced with worldly issues.
A recent survey in the Telegraph revealed that very many people actually acted in the same way that people are portrayed in "The Office", the recent comedy hit. The question for us, is are we prepared to be distinctive and separate?
There are three kinds of response we can make to the challenge here.
- Ignore it.
- Apathy - agree, but don't to anything.
- act upon it - ask the Lord how we might change, ask him to show us what we might need to change.
This year do we need a wake up call? The book "The shock of your life" has three people, three chapters: "horrified", "grieved" and "ecstatic" representing the unbeliever, the apathetic Christian and the keen Christian. Which one are we? Are we prepared for the cost of being a Christian?
Going back to Oliver Cromwells quote. What is the world? All that distracts us from Christ. Are we aware that we are transferred out of the darkness and into the Kingdom of God!
Harry Smith
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