There are a variety of approaches (or lack thereof) among Christians when it comes to our relationship with those who are not currently following Jesus. Though my list is limited and someone arbitrary, I thought I’d post it anyway.
The Clueless - These live their lives in something of a bubble, seemingly unaware of what is taking place around them. It’s not that they necessarily live as outright separatists. It’s just that they have no sense of how out of touch they can be/appear. Thus, their Christian subculture dominates their interests, likes, and dislikes. While they can certainly be good and helpful people, they stand out as being a little odd to many.
The (Complete) Separatists - These people do not want to “touch the unclean thing.” Thus, they are completely immersed in their own little world, and their attitude toward outsiders–however sincere it may be–is mostly negative. These, too, will appear strange to many.
The Take-a-Stand Types - These are separatist types, but they also recognize the need to take the gospel to others. They are typically the ones who “take a stand,” “fight the good fight,” and “defend the faith” against the onslaughts of the enemy. These can be doctrinally motivated folks, but they sometimes tend to promote an imbalanced theology. Thus, for instance, they are quick to talk about the evils of the world and the depravity of human beings (which are indeed valid biblical truths), yet they neglect (or give mere lip service to) equally valid notions like natural revelation, common grace, and the dignity of all human beings. These people come across as arrogant. Sometimes, the charge is unfair. Other times, however, it surely appears to be the case. In general they turn people off to the truth, which comes across as too negative. While we clearly must be willing to state the bad news, these individuals seem to specialize in it. As a result, the good news is often obscured.
The Copy Cats - These are the (supposedly) cutting edge types, who are willing to do anything that is necessary to win people over. Some of the seeker sensitive movement moves in this direction. Thus, if we change our services, alter our music, wear the garb of today’s culture, we will draw others to the gospel. There is something valid about this perspective, for we are indeed called to be everything to every person. All too often, though, these believers are like bad impressionists, for they seem to pretend to be like others. As a result, those who know them wonder if they have a hidden agenda. In its worst form, this can look quite deceptive. Sometimes, I have thought, this might be the case. At any rate, in the name of mirroring the world, they come across as inauthentic.
The Truly Worldly - These have become immersed in the world and give no real thought to what it means to live like (or for) Jesus. Thus, they take on the harmful attributes of society and seem quite unaware of the fact. While rigid-minded legalists are quick to apply the term “worldly” to just about anyone who doesn’t look exactly like they do, there is such a thing as worldliness (though I would argue that identifying it is often subjective). Whenever things like grace, love, and holiness are minimized or ignored, the spirit of this age has taken hold.
The Rightly "Worldly" - Finally, we come to what I have called the rightly worldly. So much in evangelistic and apologetic circles seems to miss this point. The clueless, separatistic, hypercritical, or worldly models simply will not do. But–and I think this is important–neither will the copy-cat versions of outreach. If we truly want to live out the truth, if we desire to share the love of God with others, if we actually care about the truth and about people, it is never enough to spend time on the outskirts of society. We simply cannot fake being like the people who live all around us. As far as I’m concerned, this is a subtle form of hypocrisy and an easy way out. Often, in fact, I think believers are simply afraid that our faith can’t make it in the real world. Thus, we construct make-believe realities in order to escape the dangers of real living. But, back to the point, we mustn’t think that we are so different than others, for indeed we are very much like them (in both good and bad ways). What I’m arguing for, then, is a type of holy worldliness. In other words, we should be like the world, our world, in every way that is biblically feasible and spiritually allowable. Is this a dangerous way to live? Absolutely! Will we sometimes compromise? Undoubtedly! Indeed, this is precisely why we need each other as believers, so that we can navigate this exciting yet dangerous world in a relatively healthy manner. In case you haven’t noticed, you have a whole lot in common with those non-followers of Jesus that you live next to and work with. Indeed, given that we are all divine image-bearers, this makes a lot of sense. Our concerns and fears and joys overlap those of all people, inside or outside of the faith. Along the way, of course, you will sometimes falter and question yourself, and at times you will find yourself in potentially harmful situations. But this is the only way to truly live, the dangerous way, the way which intersects with the world God created and the people he loves. Our job–as those bathed in truth and connected with God and others who are likeminded–is to be worldly. Of course if you do this, many will object, and the strongest protests will come from within the church itself. Sounds like someone else we know, doesn’t it? :-)
The Clueless - These live their lives in something of a bubble, seemingly unaware of what is taking place around them. It’s not that they necessarily live as outright separatists. It’s just that they have no sense of how out of touch they can be/appear. Thus, their Christian subculture dominates their interests, likes, and dislikes. While they can certainly be good and helpful people, they stand out as being a little odd to many.
The (Complete) Separatists - These people do not want to “touch the unclean thing.” Thus, they are completely immersed in their own little world, and their attitude toward outsiders–however sincere it may be–is mostly negative. These, too, will appear strange to many.
The Take-a-Stand Types - These are separatist types, but they also recognize the need to take the gospel to others. They are typically the ones who “take a stand,” “fight the good fight,” and “defend the faith” against the onslaughts of the enemy. These can be doctrinally motivated folks, but they sometimes tend to promote an imbalanced theology. Thus, for instance, they are quick to talk about the evils of the world and the depravity of human beings (which are indeed valid biblical truths), yet they neglect (or give mere lip service to) equally valid notions like natural revelation, common grace, and the dignity of all human beings. These people come across as arrogant. Sometimes, the charge is unfair. Other times, however, it surely appears to be the case. In general they turn people off to the truth, which comes across as too negative. While we clearly must be willing to state the bad news, these individuals seem to specialize in it. As a result, the good news is often obscured.
The Copy Cats - These are the (supposedly) cutting edge types, who are willing to do anything that is necessary to win people over. Some of the seeker sensitive movement moves in this direction. Thus, if we change our services, alter our music, wear the garb of today’s culture, we will draw others to the gospel. There is something valid about this perspective, for we are indeed called to be everything to every person. All too often, though, these believers are like bad impressionists, for they seem to pretend to be like others. As a result, those who know them wonder if they have a hidden agenda. In its worst form, this can look quite deceptive. Sometimes, I have thought, this might be the case. At any rate, in the name of mirroring the world, they come across as inauthentic.
The Truly Worldly - These have become immersed in the world and give no real thought to what it means to live like (or for) Jesus. Thus, they take on the harmful attributes of society and seem quite unaware of the fact. While rigid-minded legalists are quick to apply the term “worldly” to just about anyone who doesn’t look exactly like they do, there is such a thing as worldliness (though I would argue that identifying it is often subjective). Whenever things like grace, love, and holiness are minimized or ignored, the spirit of this age has taken hold.
The Rightly "Worldly" - Finally, we come to what I have called the rightly worldly. So much in evangelistic and apologetic circles seems to miss this point. The clueless, separatistic, hypercritical, or worldly models simply will not do. But–and I think this is important–neither will the copy-cat versions of outreach. If we truly want to live out the truth, if we desire to share the love of God with others, if we actually care about the truth and about people, it is never enough to spend time on the outskirts of society. We simply cannot fake being like the people who live all around us. As far as I’m concerned, this is a subtle form of hypocrisy and an easy way out. Often, in fact, I think believers are simply afraid that our faith can’t make it in the real world. Thus, we construct make-believe realities in order to escape the dangers of real living. But, back to the point, we mustn’t think that we are so different than others, for indeed we are very much like them (in both good and bad ways). What I’m arguing for, then, is a type of holy worldliness. In other words, we should be like the world, our world, in every way that is biblically feasible and spiritually allowable. Is this a dangerous way to live? Absolutely! Will we sometimes compromise? Undoubtedly! Indeed, this is precisely why we need each other as believers, so that we can navigate this exciting yet dangerous world in a relatively healthy manner. In case you haven’t noticed, you have a whole lot in common with those non-followers of Jesus that you live next to and work with. Indeed, given that we are all divine image-bearers, this makes a lot of sense. Our concerns and fears and joys overlap those of all people, inside or outside of the faith. Along the way, of course, you will sometimes falter and question yourself, and at times you will find yourself in potentially harmful situations. But this is the only way to truly live, the dangerous way, the way which intersects with the world God created and the people he loves. Our job–as those bathed in truth and connected with God and others who are likeminded–is to be worldly. Of course if you do this, many will object, and the strongest protests will come from within the church itself. Sounds like someone else we know, doesn’t it? :-)
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