How Can We Be in the World but Not of the World?
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown
Bible Reading
“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 everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
What the World Says
Some people belittle the Christian faith by dumbing it down to a list of dos and don’ts. They find religion to be too restrictive and punitive. Funny how the world launches such a criticism of the faith when the world itself has a list of dos and don’ts.
Do be diverse, equitable, body-positive, and sex-positive. Don’t be against abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism.
If you aren’t strong in your convictions, then being name-called or challenged by the world in any way will more than likely be intimidating. You’ll be left with a fear of cancellation, being ostracized, or something worse
The truth is, much like our flesh is at war with the spirit, our faith is constantly at war with the world. That’s why in Scripture, we see time and time again how there is a contrast between God’s people and the surrounding cultures. God has called us to live in a certain way, and the world feels enmity toward that ideal. That’s always been true. And as always, the temptation we face as believers is neglecting what God wants and instead opting to fit in with the world.
That’s normal. We’re sinful by nature and likewise, we each desire to be a part of a community. Sometimes, fellowship with the world just looks more appealing.
However, we can’t call ourselves Christian and still live like those around us. We can’t choose to follow God only when convenient, in those moments when the world isn’t watching. Not if we’re a believer, because being a Christian means something specific.
But how exactly do we ensure that we ascribe to God and not the world? How can we be in the world, but not of the world?
To answer that, we turn to Scripture.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Within Scripture, we find a multitude of ways to separate ourselves from the surrounding culture, but here are three we can implement in our lives today.
Find the Right People
The Bible talks about being unequally yoked, a principle we often apply to marriage, but one that relates to all of our relationships. When we decide to follow Christ, we are explicitly agreeing to become like Him. That applies to the way we talk, dress, act, and think. Certain people will not appreciate this growth and will want us to be more like them, less like Christ.
This isn’t the right kind of company to keep. Ultimately, believers should not try to fit in with the culture, not if it calls for us to forfeit our values. Instead, choose to find a godly community that will not ask you to give up what’s good, but rather the things holding you back from God.
Focus on Heaven
With all the bills, relationships, and commitments here on Earth, we can naturally find ourselves distracted from what matters most. When that happens, we may find ourselves preoccupied with the world and forgetful of God. The solution is not to fill our heads with worldly things but instead, focus on the things above.
Know Your Worth
Another reason we find ourselves gravitating towards the world’s approval is that we falsely believe our worth comes from people. We tell ourselves that if we get married, then we’re worthy; if we have a ton of friends, then we’re worthy, and on and on. None of that is true. Our worth comes from God, and our worth has existed since He first created us. All of the relationships we have on this Earth will one day end, whether through conflict or death. The things we do for people and what they do for us will one day cease. What will never end is God’s love for His children.
Remember that the next time you think the world has your best interest at heart.
Further Reading:
Romans 12:2
John 15:19
Deuteronomy 22:10
Psalm 27:10
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/TanawatPontchour
Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes to Salem Web Network’s Crosswalk platform and supports various clients through the freelancing website Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo.
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
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