In April, I wrote a blog entitled, "Culture or Subculture" where I dealt with the struggle we all face in whether we will create a subculture of Christianity that isolates us from the lost world or will we find ways where we engage the culture with our faith in Christ and what he has done for us. Jesus spoke about this in John 17 while he prayed for the disciples and for those to come after them. Let's look at this prayer.
John 17
14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.20 I do not ask this for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
Remember, this is Jesus' prayer for us (look at verse 20 for proof). So, where does Jesus want us to be. Where are we to engage our lives. I want to break down the passage.
We are not of this world. We, as his children are in him, that is our spiritual position -"in him". And because we are in him, we are not of this world. For the fact that we are not of the the world- it hates us. That does not mean the people of God cannot have impact, they can. Just look at Acts 2 where they were enjoying the favor of all the people. We are aliens in this world. Strangers, who can have real influence.
but...We are in the World. Jesus wants us in the world, not removed from it (vs. 15). Because we are in him, we live our lives as Jesus did - He was sent into the world, and so are we sent into the world. That means mean engage culture, not move away from it. We are to be like him, not of the world, but in it. Are you in it?
The necessity of the Word of God. How do we then, not being of the world, but being in it and being sent into it, how do we protect ourselves and our holiness as we engage our lives with lost people. How do we have influence without being influenced. What will protect us from the snares and influence of the world? Jesus says 3 things about the word of God and how it will help us. Here they are:
We have been given his Word. It is not distant or hidden. He has given his Word to us. It is available.
His Word is the truth. Impacting culture will not happen if we don't understand that truth alone is found in Christ. It is not found in the popular books, but it is found in the scripture.
The truth of the word will sanctify us. The word of God cleanses us and brings a depth to our lives where we will actually have something to say to people. The truth of Christ brings real change and power in the process of sanctification. The working of the word and the Holy Spirit sanctify us to become more and more like Christ.
The Prayer of Jesus. Jesus' prayer from so long ago is written here, and its power still goes with us today and covers us. It is a prayer that will continue for the church in every generation and is one that covers us daily. His prayer that night was that as we engage in our lost culture and take the gospel to them, not ask them to come to us first.
To keep us from the evil one. The great thing about Jesus prayer here is that he has overcome the enemy through his death on the cross and to know that he is praying that the evil one would be kept away.
No doubt the world can be a dangerous place. Kids can lose their innocence so quickly with all the things that they are exposed to at such an early age. I think we do all we can to protect that innocence for as long as we can. There comes a time though, where we all have to moveout of the "Christian Culture" bubble and find our lives intentionally intersecting with the lives of non-believers. No doubt, they are not like us, but we are sent into the world, just as Jesus was sent into the world.
Let's engage our lost culture.
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