In part of Jesus’ prayer of John 17, He said, “I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one” (verse 15). This is among the passages that show the need for Christ’s disciples to be “in the world, but not of the world.” Consider some things God teaches related to this theme.
Being “in the world” involves living amid and coming into contact with worldly people. The Holy Spirit warns that “evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). This does not mean, though, that God expects us to cut ourselves off completely from those of the world (cf. 1 Cor. 5:10). We have duties as we live on earth, and we cannot fulfill them by cutting ourselves off from society.
Though we must be “in the world,” we must not be “of the world.” That is, we must choose to follow God’s pattern for our lives instead of conforming to the world.
Lot exemplified this. When God punished Sodom and Gomorrah for unrighteousness, He “delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked” (2 Pet. 2:7). Biblical history shows many of God’s children living amid unrighteousness that was just as severe, if not more so, than that which surrounds us today. Lot and others showed that we can be righteous even “in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15).
To be set apart in this way, we must allow God to transform our thinking.
Notice Romans 12:2: Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. It is easy to unwittingly allow society to shape and mold us into one who conforms to “majority opinion.” God teaches that we must instead go through a spiritual metamorphosis, changing our minds to fit His will.
This is done by looking to God’s Word as our standard in life. There are many “who call evil good, and good evil” (Isa. 5:20), but lack this self-awareness because they compare their beliefs and practices to the world instead of God’s Word.
Those who are “in the world, but not of the world” allow God to tell us what is right and wrong, and develop an abhorrence for what God declares evil and a love for what He declares right (Rom. 12:9). This change of thinking should lead to a change of practice, thus allowing God’s truth to shape us for His glory (John 17:17). When we change our beliefs and practices in obedience to God, we will be different from the world. While many want to “fit in” with the majority, we should remember that “many” are headed down the “broad” way “that leads to destruction,” (Matt. 7:13), while “few” are headed down the “narrow” way “that leads to life” (verse 14). Instead of viewing the differences that result from godliness negatively, we should realize such differences are good.
1 Peter 4:4 references the bad reaction those of the world often have toward Christians. While the world’s evil speaking can be upsetting, it is a wonderful thing when one leaves behind sins such as those mentioned in verse 3 of 1 Peter 4. Being viewed as “strange” is light relative to the joy of escaping sin’s snare.
Though transforming our lives to fit God’s will is a positive change, there are temporary hardships that can be expected. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Such persecution may be physical or mental (like that of 1 Pet. 4:4). It may even come from a family member or close friend (cf. Matt. 10:36). We must endure trials, putting Christ’s will above all.
Endurance through trials calls for trusting our Almighty God. If “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20), we should trust our King who is in heaven, casting our cares on Him (1 Pet. 5:7), and looking to the time we’ll be with Him forever. May we heed God’s guidance and be “in the world, but not of the world,” allowing God to transform our lives for His glory.
– Michael Hickox