Tired of Myself, Tired of this Town

I just want to share something with you all that God has been showing me recently, in the hope that it will be for your benefit also. So, here goes!

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

--Jesus (John 17:15-16)

From this quote, we evangelical Christians get our common command, Be in the world but not of the world! We need to be in the world so that we can share the gospel, to glorify God, right?

This is true. But how often do we actually evangelize (myself included)? Are we actually following Biblical principles? Is our evangelical truism instead just used to make allowances for our own sinful desires? I feel we can easily slip into such a habit--letting small, worldly sins into our lives. But, we're just in the world, you know? So we don't feel that bad about it.

Until we go back to the Word.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Ouch.

So, how often do we make ourselves friends with the world, and therefore enemies of God? How often do we go to those sketchy parties or sketchy concerts? Or, for the "more holy" among us that don't go to sketchy parties, how often do we end up watching risqué Youtube videos or listening to unholy music or absorbing immoral movies? Oh yes, these things are part of our culture. And oh yes, we are to know our culture. But we are also to keep ourselves pure from its evils.

Sitting in front of your computer watching someone's latest mildly profane music video is not keeping yourself pure, and it's definitely not helping your work for God's kingdom.

Jesus said that we are not of the world just as He is not of the world. So, if I may bring back something from middle school, I have a question for you to ask yourself. Next time you feel like rockin' out to that unholy song or enjoying that lustful movie, ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?" I think that if we all genuinely examine ourselves and our actions with this question, we will realize that the Bible calls us to far fewer allowances to our society's principles. And, through that, we may live lives more glorifying to our God. Amen.

I love you all.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

(PS: Yeah, the title of this post comes from a song I will no longer listen to. Oh, the irony. ;-) )