IN THIS WORLD -- NOT OF IT

1 Corinthians 5

“We are in this world not of it.” What does this mean?

Some might see it as a call for separation from all that does not fall under the ‘Christian’ banner. Those who see it this way may shop at bible book stores happily paying more for Veggie-tales than they would at the local Wal-mart; drink their mocha’s at the coffee shop where K-love has been known to be heard over the speakers and if a Christian school is not affordable, homeschooling is a must.

All of these things are well and good. Nothing at all wrong with supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ (after all, wouldn’t we shop first at a relative’s store before any other?) as well as making assurances that our children are taught the same values and morals that God demands from us.

The problem is not the fellowshipping and supporting of our Christian family, the problem comes when in doing so we shut out everyone else. When we find ourselves avoiding all unbelievers even as we attempt to convert them.

Paul wrote a letter to his church in Corinth addressing the problem of immoral acts committed by members of that church. I love what he says:

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral…. in that case you would have to leave this world!”

Paul is trying to clarify that he did not intend for the church to remain secluded from the world and it’s unbelieving population. In order to do that, he quips, you would have to leave the world!

He continues with his clarification by saying:

“You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a BROTHER but is immoral.”

He goes on to say:

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”

So what are we to think about the unbelievers who are living with their girl/boyfriends, following different religions – or no religion at all, use coarse language? Are we to judge them and hold them accountable to that which we believe? No – We are in this world with them and are commanded, in fact, to love them. Paul tells us it is God who will judge them and we certainly are not God!

It was the Pharisees who grumbled that Jesus welcomed the sinners and ate with them (Luke 15:2). Yet, Paul warns us that we are not to eat with fellow Christians who are immoral (1 Corinthians 5:11). Why? Because we who follow Christ are held to a higher standard. The reason we shun our brothers and sisters who are acting immorally is to hold them accountable to their calling as a follower of Christ as well as keeping ourselves from falling into the same discretions.

Some may think that as Christians we are to love our brother and judge the unbeliever but the opposite is more true – we are to love the unbeliever and judge our brother. By doing so, we show love by our concern for him/her to get back on track.

“We are in this world – not of it” then, is less about where we eat and with whom we hang out but more about how we act. We do not act like those who are of this world. We hold each other and ourselves accountable to the standards that were given to us by our God and Savior. We do so because our lives were deemed worthy enough to be salvaged by the death and resurrection of God Himself! So we hold our heads high -- not in arrogance – but in appreciation for the precious gift we were given. We should then immerse ourselves IN this world with hopes that those OF this world will see the love of God through us and also accept His gift offered to all.

WHEN I AM WEAK--PART 3

“Suffering is never wasted”

I heard that line today

Then a still small voice whispered

My ways are not your ways

My thoughts turned toward heaven

As I lifted you in prayer

What blessings are being poured out

That we are not aware?

The struggles of this battle

One you did not choose

May seem so overwhelming

As you fight so not to lose

But even in your suffering

God is standing by your side

He will show His glory

He will bless as well as guide

For when the trial is over

And the race has been run

You’ll have the chance to look back

And see all God has done

Our thoughts are not His thoughts

--oh, how I wish they were

To know the reason for the pain

And to know for sure…

…that suffering is not wasted

That good outweighs the bad

So even as we suffer

We can rejoice and be glad

When I AM WEAK

PART TWO

OPEN DOOR TO GRACE

In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul tells us that he has asked God to take away a “thorn in his flesh”. Three times Paul pleads for relief and three times God said no.

I do not know what that thorn was… a physical ailment, a hard to resist temptation? We know Paul was not married so it couldn’t have been in-laws! All we are told is that this thorn was a messenger from Satan given to torment him and keep him from becoming conceited. (Nope, still not in-laws)

God did not take away Paul’s thorn but He did give Paul a reason. God said to him, “My grace is sufficient to you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

As understanding on how God can use such thorns to display His Glory entered Paul’s thinking, he embraced the thorn and even rejoiced because of it.

It is hard to imagine suffering and rejoicing at the same time. We live in a world where the two do not, seemingly, belong together. Yet, I have noticed God’s thinking and the thinking of this world very often contradict each other…”First shall be last”(Luke 13:30)…”Those who are poor are rich…” (James 2:5). So, it seems, is the case here.

I have experienced the strength and peace of God during times of suffering. It is a sensation that cannot be described to someone who has not felt it. Feeling joy in the very heart of sorrow, peace among turmoil, it goes against all that is expected in this world.

The difference between God’s peace everyday and His Peace in times of pain is like the difference between the first signs of spring and the first signs of spring after a cold, miserable, hard winter.

It is the difference between a hug in a casual greeting and a hug after the death of a loved one.

It is the difference between friends bringing a hot meal to a gathering and friends bringing a hot meal while you and your family are dealing with cancer.

The spring, the hug, and the meal have not changed in their nature but in the middle of hardships they are so much more. More needed, more felt, more appreciated. They are hope personified.

So it is with God’s peace in troubling times. Do we need hardship to experience it? Of course not, but its presence feels stronger and is more welcomed.

If you have been thrust into difficult situations, have you noticed how often God reveals Himself during those times, to you as well as to others? If you listen I bet you will hear at least one amazing story connected to every tragedy…

…A swarm of butterflies surround a grieving daughter in a moment when reassurance is needed, only to fly away when a smile appears among the tears.

…A beloved cat taking a flower out of a kitchen vase and placing it on the vacant pillow of it’s owner who is now sleeping in a hospital battling cancer.

…A mother’s favorite flower growing in the middle of her son’s yard days after her death.

These are just some of the stories I have heard from friends and family. They are amazing stories that have brought comfort in times of grief.

But I have to wonder, in our time of need is God revealing Himself to us more or is it simply that we are looking toward Him more and therefore see Him? Either way, God uses our trials to show Himself to us and to others and in doing so brings us closer to Him.

And so, as Paul said:

“I will boast all the gladly about my weakness so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

--2 Corinthians 12:10

(If you would like to read more about Amazing miracles in the middle of great tragedy…read By Faith , by Laura Roberts)