The church cannot be like the world.

If the love of the Father is in you, Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods wrote John (1Jn 2:15). To this Apostle, the world represented everything outside his door that ran counter to his faith. Indeed, the world has a different take on how we as Christians should live. Today’s postmodern culture believes that all ideas are equally valid, and no one is wrong. 

The world’s way has gravitated towards those voices that contend, Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we may die. All of us have heard the siren song of beliefs that suits, dispositions, politics, and cultures and lifestyles.

In our culture we are free to believe what we want to believe because in the name of tolerance and diversity no one’s viewpoint can be dismissed. And while this may help us to be liked by others, it is a dangerous approach to take, it is like making a beeline for a deadly reef where we are likely to shipwreck our faith.

Before His departure, Jesus pulled His men in tight to tell them, if you belonged to the world the world would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you (Jn 15:19). His message to them is the same for us. Blending in with the world is not the mark of a follower of Christ. We cannot say we do not know what the church looks like even when the things of the world are dressed up to look like the church but with other agendas.This will cause confusion and God’s people to be misled.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, keep us from the love of the world and its trappings, maintain and sustain us in the face of every adversity. Forgive us for excusing ourselves from Your commands by choosing our own agendas: 

diversity and freedom of choice. Remind us that we do not belong to the world but to You, O Lord, who paid the price for our sin. Thank You, Father God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.