Living in the world but not of it

ho·li·ness
[ˈhōlēnəs]
NOUN
the state of being holy.
“a life of holiness and total devotion to God”
Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God

As a Christian, how often have you felt out of place while living by God’s ways and not the world’s? How often have you had people make remarks about your “different” choices? Maybe you feel out of place every single day. Or maybe you’ve felt that way on occasion but it’s not a daily part of life. Or, perhaps, you can’t remember the last time you truly felt a bit uncomfortable because of your choices.

That could be a good thing if you’re so used to living for God that it doesn’t phase you.

However, it could also be a bad thing if you’re not feeling uncomfortable if that means your life doesn’t look all that different from the world.

We all long for acceptance, so, understandably, ‘weird’ is not the descriptor we seek. Yet, living the life that God asks us to will, more often than not, make us look weird in the eyes of the world.

If people aren’t raising eyebrows at how we live, then perhaps we’re living more like the world than we realize.

As believers, God has called us to live in the world but not participate in the world’s ways. However, sometimes our boundary lines become blurred and we find ourselves living with one foot in the world while trying to keep the other on holy ground.

It makes me a bit uncomfortable to write this post because I have a feeling it could ruffle some feathers! In all honesty, I think I have a tiny little taste of what Jonah must have felt as he hightailed it in the other direction when God told him to share a specific message. (I don’t want to find out what my version of a whale’s belly is, so I’m going to obey!).

Please know that I’m sharing this in love.

I feel God has placed this on my heart to write because of HIS great love for His people and many of us need to reevaluate how much like the world we’ve allowed ourselves to become. I pray that as you read you will sense the heart of love from which it’s coming– and if conviction stirs, the Father is ready and waiting for you to get both feet back firmly on holy ground.

It’s also my desire for you to know that I’m not writing from a “holier than thou” place. I’ve lived with both feet planted firmly in the world and it took a lot of refining fire to burn out the sin and bring me running back to holy ground. Living within God’s holy boundaries is by far the best place to be.

What does being called to be weird (holy) mean today?

Slippery slope

Unholiness is sneaky. “Living as the world” doesn’t necessarily mean only in the obvious “big” things like stealing, lying, cheating, etc. The slippery slope that God has been speaking to my heart about is the things that creep into our lifestyles because of their ubiquitous nature in our society. They slide in through little everyday choices that may seem rather innocent at first because so many people are doing it. However, the more little choices we compromise on, the deeper we slide into an unholy lifestyle. Eventually, we may find ourselves in the pit and not even realize how we got there if we’re not careful to watch our steps every day.

The Pursuit of Possessions and Appearances

Living in America, pursuing comforts, happiness, and a healthy retirement account is a normal and expected thing to do. Most people don’t think twice about pursuing bigger, better, and more as this lifestyle is considered to be “The American Dream.” Climbing the corporate ladder, working to upgrade cars and homes, and lining closets with the season’s latest trends are the desired way of life for many in our culture.

Many believers have bought into this lifestyle as well. But should this be considered a normal way of life for a follower of Christ?

Let’s see what God’s word has to say about it.

(**You might be tempted to skim these verses. Sometimes when we’re familiar with a text we don’t take the time to truly ponder and let it work in us as we read. I invite you to slow down and let them seep into your soul as you read.)

Scripture

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:16

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:9

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins so that you will not receive any of her plagues. Revelation 18:4

When we work to pad our retirement accounts, when we shop to fill voids, when we seek to have perfectly decorated homes and immaculate wardrobes, are our hearts truly where God has asked them to be?

Granted, there’s nothing inherently wrong about owning nice things, but when pursuing more and better has taken the place of serving and giving, we might have it wrong.

When saving up for a secure future overrides the genuine, current needs next door, we might have it wrong.

If our possessions take more time to organize, clean, and care for than the time we give to invest in relationships, we might have it wrong.

When we spend more time and money on our hair, makeup, and appearances than we do on serving those in need, we might have it wrong.

The reality is, that our financial decisions show where our hearts are. What do your choices tell you about your heart?

Media Choices

Movies, books, television shows, magazines, and every corner of the internet imaginable are at our disposal at a moment’s notice. The influence media has on our minds, hearts, and lifestyles is incredibly powerful! It’s often the influence of what we allow into our minds through our media choices that starts us on that slippery slope path.

This is an area in which I believe many Christians have become lax. As a result, we have become a bit desensitized to the importance of guarding our minds and the minds of our children from consuming things that are less than godly. Advertisements (and most shows) feed into the desire for more and make the ways of the world alluring and glamorize sinful lifestyles. Our choices are influenced by them whether we’re conscious of it or not. I’m reminded of a line from a childhood song:

“Input, Output, what goes in, must come out…” Not just a catchy song lyric, the principle is also a spiritual law. The more worldly influence we allow our eyes and ears to take in, the more worldly we will become.

In contrast, when we choose to follow Philippians 4:8, what flows out of us will follow suit.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” 

                        

In our family, we have chosen not to have television, Netflix, and the like. Occasional movies are allowed, but we’re quite careful of the influence we allow in our home. This choice raises eyebrows from many non-Christians and Christians alike. We are definitely thought odd or a bit old-fashioned because of this choice. However, we believe we are simply adhering to a standard God has called us to by eliminating this distraction, temptation, influence, and time trap from our home. We have found immense benefits and blessing in this choice.

I’m certainly not condemning those who choose differently, but I am inviting you to prayerfully and honestly examine your Input/Output.

Busyness

Busyness is another area believers have drifted more toward the world. Are we really called to participate in all.the.things? When we are run ragged from running here and there, sports, clubs, studies, activities– you know what your list is, we usually do not have any time or energy left to sit at the feet of Jesus or to serve others. It might be time for a priority check.

{ Read: How to Live on Purpose in an Age of Distractions }

Here is what God has been speaking to my heart about holiness. In my sacred early morning moments, His whispers have been flooding my heart:

The Whispers of God’s Voice

“I am calling my people to come back to me. Come back and be set apart! My people have been influenced by the world. They have become comfortable and immersed in the ways of the world. The love of this world has grown in the hearts of my people, tainting their influence. I am calling them to come back to purity. Learn to be in this world but not of it. My people are called to be holy.

Come back and be set apart! Set yourselves apart. Do not live as the world lives. Working to get ahead. Working for more comforts and ease. What are my people striving for? Why do you participate in the materialistic pursuits of getting ahead? Why do you pursue comfort and ease when all around there are hurting people in need of my love? In need of your hands and feet, resources and time. When busyness with un-essential things fill your days and minds, there is not the time to see, to notice, and to serve.

If you are beginning with a too-full plate, you must subtract in order to add. The desserts must be removed to be replaced with the more important meats and vegetables. If you fill up on sweets first, you will have no room left for true substance. Eliminate the fluff to make room for substance.

Great joy, comfort, and peace are found when you walk closely with me, sticking to the narrow path. But you have to return from the wide road you are now on.

Choose.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Me, or your flesh. Me, or the desires of this world. Choosing to live on purpose isn’t about you, but living for a purpose beyond yourself. Greater love has no man than he lay down his life for another. Living on purpose isn’t about personal fulfillment, though when you are pouring yourself out for another, you will find that you are also being filled. Living for a purpose beyond oneself brings joy and eternal fulfillment.

Set yourselves apart from the world. Let there be a difference that is unmistakable. There is more freedom, power, and delight to be found by walking with me in holiness than can ever be found by living as the world does.”