In the World, but Not of It

July 25, 2006

Joe,

I think you really like putting up those pictures of the books you are reading; do you just do that to remind me that I don’t know how to do it?!  Certainly your post got me thinking, because I have not read the DaVinci Code nor have I seen the movie, nor do I plan to.  I am not opposed to those Christians who have done so, because I think it is very important that we as believers not seek to detach ourselves from what is happening in the culture/world around us. 

That is what your post mainly impressed upon me.  Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that Christians should be informed about church history and ought to acqauint ourselves with some good books to help us see where we have come from.  In fact, there sits on my shelf a pretty good overview of Church History titled Church History in Plain Language, by Bruce Shelley (Really that was just a way of sneaking in another book recommendation; am I excused from doing that this weekend now?).  I’ll add it to the ever-increasing list of books that I need to read. 

But what I was thinking about personally as I read your post was how detached I am from popular culture.  Of course the Scriptures call us to come out and be separate from the world and not to be conformed to this world (2 Corinthians 6:17, Romans 12:2, etc.).  But I know that personally I am too far removed from the world around me.  The fighting in the Middle East is a huge current example.  I know absolutely nothing of what’s going on there, and yet so many people are talking about the Middle East!  How desperately does the unbelieving world around us need people to bring in a Christ-centered worldview to this conflict, and to every conflict, and to every current event that happens in this world!  Because we know that God works “all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11), we as Christians ought to be informed about all that He is doing in His world.  Sadly, I am far too ignorant.  How am I to shine the light of Christ into this dark world when I know nothing about what’s happening in the world? 

Knowing the history of the church is important, but knowing the current world is also important if we are to make an impact on it for the glory of Christ.  To that end, Michelle and I got a subscription to Newsweek a few months ago.  It has helped, but only when I make the time to actually read it!

And that leads me to one final thought.  You said in your last post that we as Christians ought to be reading more.  While I agree wholeheartedly, where do you find the time?  How do you, as Paul spoke of in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”  Between writing sermons and counseling others and spending time with my wife and driving students and responding to emails and on and on we could go, how do I set all that aside to read a 500 page book on church history?  Or Newsweek? 

I think I have a feeling how you will respond, but I’ll just wait and see.  One suggestion for myself (and maybe others will profit as well) is to read a great sermon by Jonathan Edwards called the Preciousness of Time.  It has been a couple of years since I read that one, but perhaps I will take a look at that this afternoon…if I can find the time!  I vaguely remember that it was a challenging one.

Seeking Him with you,

 Larry

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Uncategorized 

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