I was recently involved in a discussion about how we, as Christians, are to be different from the world and about what makes us different. The conversation was actually very brief, but it left me mulling the question over for hours afterward. How am I different from the world? I'm sure that every Christian has some ideas in their head about what makes them different and about what should make Christians different. I know that I do.
But the more I thought about it, the more the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. It's true that scripture predicts that we will be different from the world and unloved by it. I will certainly not dispute that in any way! But I feel like thinking about it in this light brings up a much darker heart problem for me: pride.
When first asked "how are you different from the world?" I immediately thought of some things: I'm a homeschool mom training up my children, I'm a stay at home mom, Titus 2 wife, I'm being fruitful and multiplying to the glory of God... All pretty awesome, unworldly stuff, right?
Well....
Not exactly. See, the fact is, when I list things like that, what I'm really doing is lifting myself up. In comparing me to the world, I'm making me look great in my eyes. I'm basically putting on my Pharisee hat and tithing out of my spice rack. Lord, pull me out of this pride and religion!
The purpose of scripture is not to build us up. Scripture should instruct us, yes, but we should hear and apply that instruction to our lives to the glory of God. Not to the glory of self. In asking "how am I different from the world?" I am focusing on entirely the wrong place!
It's not about homeschooling, housework, drinking, smoking, or any other thing that we can do or not do to be "not of the world". Christ died for us. So we are not under the law; in Christ all things are lawful (but of course, not all are beneficial), so we have no business looking down on brothers and sisters for the things they do if they are following Christ when they do them (of course, I could go into a whole discussion about accountability, church discipline, and being holy as God is holy here, and those are completely valid points. But kind of off topic here, so I'll try to move on for now and come back to that another day). At any rate, being legalistic about what a Christian can or can't do is not helpful for anyone. It might make me feel good, it might make someone rethink their actions, but who is receiving the glory there? Definitely not the One who deserves it! Also, it's really likely that that little quest for self-glory will completely backfire, destroy the relationship (or the potential for one), and bring glory to no one. Especially not the One who deserves it.
Additionally, we can't go around expecting non-believers to look or act like believers - we used to be like them and, outside of grace, we would still be right there. So we can't really look down on them either. In both cases, it's got to be about love and grace, not legalism and judgment.
There is one person that we can and should judge though: ourselves. However, the world can't be our standard here. When we think of being "not of the world," we need to think about who we do belong to. We can't compare ourselves to something we're not a part of - a good lesson for Christians and middle school girls alike - we have to compare ourselves to the One who gave us this new life that we are a part of!
So.... I'm a homeschooling, Titus 2 believing woman who tries to live by faith. Jesus is God, my savior, my creator, love personified, abounding in grace. Am I righteous? Am I awesome? Absolutely not. Abso-freaking-lutely. Not.
We are not of the world, true. But it's not because of anything we've done to make ourselves holy and righteous. In the eyes of a Holy God, we can't be holy and righteous on our own! The reason we're not of this world is because our own perfect Superman swooped in, pulled us out of the pits of Hell, and gave us a new heart, a new nature, a new name and a new home. He did the work. He's the one we look up to. He's the Father we aspire to be like in every way.
I guess my whole point here is that I do want my life to look like that, like someone living in the world yet not of it. But the only way I can do that is by following Jesus and, comparing myself to Him only, doing all I can to show the world what kind of awesome work He can do!
He has been infinitely graceful to me when I fall short of His standards (which is usually). So I need to show everyone around me that same grace when they fall short. He loves me when I act completely unlovable. He takes care of me even when it's my own damn fault that I need help in the first place. Following His example is the only way to live both in and apart from the world.
To quote Pastor Mark, "It's all about Jesus; it's always about Jesus; it's only about Jesus!" As a Christian, that is my standard of living. Will I ever live up to that? Well... not in this life. But I'll certainly never get any closer if I'm taking measurements with the wrong ruler!
I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else. ~Marilyn Monroe
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