Lights in the World

There are different schools of thought about just how Christians should share their worldview in a world often at odds with God’s best.

Some feel it’s best to jump into the deep end of the pool and look just like the world. Others view it very much the other way. Second Corinthians 6:17 says, “‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord.” Whole denominations have used this verse to encourage believers to stay as much out of the world as possible. And this might include physically removing yourself to a remote location, giving up television, or providing an education in the home.

Now, we should note that there’s nothing wrong or unhealthy with resisting the world’s temptations. That should probably be tempered, though, with a common sense approach. If it’s impossible to physically remove yourself from the culture, what do you do? Balanced biblical approach should be the ideal.

In 1 Peter 2:1, we are told to “Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy, and all slander.” In other words, don’t do the things that unbelievers do. They don’t know God, and so they don’t have rules to live by. That kind of life is ultimately destructive.

Rather, we should be Christ-like in our approach to people. And at the same time, we have to make sure that we look after our own spiritual condition and constantly do an assessment. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” It’s true that some people are won to Christ by believers who look like the world. There’s nothing wrong with that. And again, a Christian as passionate as Paul said, “Sometimes he was all things to all people.” 

But it’s also true that some are won to Christ because the Christian they’re watching is so different from the world. Philippians 2:14–15 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

By remembering that we’re citizens of God’s kingdom at the same time we live in this fallen world, we strike the proper balance and can then be that example Christ commanded us to be. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, help us to remember who we are in Christ. Give us a desire and a passion to witness to those who need to hear it, and at the same time, to guard our own hearts, that we don’t stray from the things that you’ve taught us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

There are different schools of thought about just how Christians should share their worldview in a world often at odds with God's best. Some feel it's best to jump into the deep end of the pool and look, just like the world. Others view it very much the other way. 2 Corinthians 6.17 says Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Whole denominations have used this verse to encourage believers to stay as much out of the world as possible. This might include physically removing yourself to a remote location, giving up television or providing an education in the home. Now we should note that there's nothing wrong or unhealthy with resisting the world's temptations. That should probably be tempered, though, with a common sense approach. If it's impossible to physically remove yourself from the culture, what do you do? Balanced biblical approach should be the ideal.

Speaker 1: 0:55

In 1 Peter 2.1, we are told to put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. In other words, don't do the things that unbelievers do. They don't know God and so they don't have rules to live by. That kind of life is ultimately destructive. Rather, we should be Christ-like in our approach to people. At the same time, we have to make sure that we look after our own spiritual condition and constantly do an assessment. Proverbs 4.23 tells us above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. It's true that some people are won to Christ by believers who look like the world. There's nothing wrong with that, and again, a Christian as passionate as Paul said sometimes he was all things to all people. But it's also true that some are one to Christ because the Christian they're watching is so different from the world.

Speaker 1: 1:51

Philippians 2, 14, 15 says do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent children of God, without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, by remembering that we're citizens of God's kingdom. At the same time we live in this fallen world. We strike the proper balance and can then be that example Christ commanded us to be. Let's pray, lord. Help us to remember who we are in Christ. Give us a desire and a passion to witness to those who need to hear it, at the same time, to guard our own hearts that we don't stray from the things that you've taught us. In Jesus' name, amen.