Be in the world, not of the world
Let’s lay the groundwork for today’s topic.
The book of John 1:1 begins with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He is telling us that Jesus was there with God in the beginning. Jesus was with God. Jesus was God.
The creation story in Genesis illustrates for us that God formed man out of the Earth: “then the Lord God formed man out of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). God gave us the breath of life from the beginning. Then, God fashioned Eve from Adam’s rib: “and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:22).
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there is a quote from St. Irenaeus in which he reiterates this point and expands upon it: “God fashioned man with his own hands…and impressed his own form on the flesh he had fashioned, in such a way that even what was visible might bear the divine form” (CCC 704).
We were made of the Earth. We were fashioned from God’s own hands. We have His breath, the breath of life. We were made in the image and likeness of God.
God calls us to be in the world, not of the world. We were made of the Earth, not of the world.
This takes strength - from the Holy Spirit.
He calls us to:
Be distinct.
Be unique.
Stand out.
All of this takes courage and requires trust in God. We can do this because He designed us this way & He gave us His grace to achieve our purpose and calling in the world. We can exist in the world without being of the world.
Rewind again to the Old Testament and the return of the Jews to their homeland from captivity/exile from ~538-167 BC.
The People of God had to suffer this purification of exile.
God calls them/us to be strangers in a strange land.
Live in exile and recognize that you are living among a foreign people.
When they came back from exile, there was less idolatry and a renewed sense of worship toward God.
They worked to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem.
Prophets revitalized the people by teaching the Word of God.
They also rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
We are called to live differently, to stand differently, to be strangers and sojourners.
As Christians, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit. It was with Jesus that we were ultimately given the Holy Spirit in its truest form.
Transitioning into the New Testament -
As Jesus taught and prayed in John 17:11-17,
“And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
You still with me? Okay, let’s break that down:
John 17:11 “And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”
Jesus has moved on. We are still in the world.
Jesus gave us His name, given by God, so that we are one. Just as Jesus and God are one, we are all one.
John 17:14 “I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world.”
Jesus gave us God’s Word, Himself.
What a gift! We are of God, not of the world.
John 17:15 “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one.”
Jesus allows us to stay in the world.
What does he want? God to keep us from the devil, the evil one.
We must do our part and draw near to Him.
John 17:16-18 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
We are not of the world, just as Jesus is not of the world.
Jesus asks that we be sanctified (set apart; holy) in the truth, God’s truth – His Word.
Just as God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world, Jesus sends us out into the world.
We are called to be holy and to declare His goodness with the world.
God sent us into the world. We are meant to draw closer to God each day – becoming more Christ-like and keeping away from the devil. How do we do this?
Sin separates us from God. When we succumb to earthly desires and try to “fit in” with this world, we are separating ourselves from God. Trust me, I know! I’ve done this.
He has called us to a higher purpose and mission on this Earth. We are called to be sanctified – to turn to God’s truth, His Word.
So what does all of this actually mean for us?
Well, allow me to provide a personal application. Here are some reflections and questions that have come up in my own life:
The thought and/or fear of being misunderstood.
Knowing that I don’t quite fit in.
I never really have.
I’ve often felt too spiritual or too religious for some settings; and too secular for other settings.
Too Christian for my non-Christian friends.
Not Christian enough for groups of Christians.
I am living in this world! And it has its impacts and effects.
I heard Jay Shetty once say, “I’m okay with being misunderstood.” You can find a quick clip here if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3MP4Ccq2wE
This resonated with me. Plus, this is something that I now work on being okay with too. I know that I will always be misunderstood, at least by someone. And that is okay! I am not meant for everyone. I cannot please everyone. I cannot and do not need to explain myself, my thoughts, or my actions to everyone. This is all part of life.
So I ask myself, how can I be in the world and not of the world? In a previous blog post, I talked about my identity in God. I live my life for His greater purpose and I know my worth and value are in Him. Knowing that, I can exist and live in this world the best that I can. I continue to strive to be less affected by the world around me and shaped and molded by the Holy Spirit within me. I challenge myself, and you, to seek to see the face of God - the breath of God - the Spirit of Christ - in others.
Lastly, if you are ready and willing to accept the challenge…ponder, reflect, and/or journal on the following questions:
How can I be in the world and not of the world?
Where do I allow myself to draw away from God, or separate myself from God?
Am I trying too hard to “fit in”?
Am I staying true to who and what God says that I am?
Or am I being crowded by the noise of what is around me?
Am I clinging to the need of being understood? How?
Thank you for taking the time to sit with this one. If you made it this far, great work! Thanks for allowing me to share part of myself and my inner world with you.
I love this little space on the internet. Let’s make the world a better place while we’re in it.
Love you always!
xo,
Megan C
