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Christopher Pineau

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"I 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."

On some levels I Get this Scripture. As someone who has always never "fit in" with the rest and always seemed/seem to be on the outside looking in and wondering just what the heck this weird thing called "life" was all about, I Get this. Even before I began listening to Him and taking Him more seriously a couple years back I always felt this way. But. However.

Here's the part where some may begin looking sideways at me, and rest assured that I mean no disrespect with my commentary in this post. I have this habit of asking questions because it helps me think and form my opinions and views, and I'm not much on being a good little do bee, as the case may be. That having been said...

Is it me, or do some Christians out there use the ideal of "Be in the world, but not of it," as a shield to hide behind, as a means of retreating from the real world and not being aware of current events, among other things? Or as a means of simply elevating themselves above others and being able to haughtily pass judgment on the "unchurched" as it were, or fellow Christians for not being Christian enough? I get that we're supposed to set a higher example, and I have no issue with that ideal. But I suppose my point is, doesn't taking that ideal to an extreme--as with any ideal--make us as well as the individual in question look bad in the end? We have enough trouble with far right sorts and far left sorts alike making us look bad and relentlessly assaulting and bashing us respectively, correct? How and where do we strike a balance, is my overall question. Balance is crucial in life, far as I'm concerned. There cannot be light without dark and vice versa. A little input on this to fuel my thoughts would be wonderful, and thank you all in advance.
 
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CallofChrist

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I think that at times Christians withdraw from the rest of civil society because they do not want to be touched by it, but we are to engage the culture and be transformative. It isn't necessarily a matter of feeling above the rest of humanity, but perhaps it is fear, sometimes. Jesus said that some not so fun things would happen as we engaged the world.

Matthew 10:16-25

Persecution Will Come

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (ESV)

Thanks for your post... it is making me think.

Peace to you.
 
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angelsaroundme

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Things can be taken to an unhealthy extreme. On the other hand, some Christians are probably better off spending most of their time with other Christians. In the same way that a lot of people are almost always with their family and that is good for them.
 
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Halbhh

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There are quite a few pieces you are talking of, and the most helpful answers finally come from just reading/listening and hearing all Christ said. We cannot make this world perfect but Christ will, one person at a time. But we are to "love your neighbor as yourself", and it's step by step. And America at its best is when most of the people are following the rule of Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets., which involves us each one doing things in the world to help others.
 
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Christopher Pineau

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Thanks to all of you for the good words and the input! To me? What @CallofChrist and @Halbhh said about it was enlightening and made me think (as a MAGA kinda guy here, on this end) of how people appear to especially not be trustworthy these days because of the far left party line that has infiltrated their brains and made them think they are above Him and above allowing Him into the lives of all. If I'm honest? I only trust the LORD to do what He does as only He can do it on His own time, not so much humans. Then again, I've always been on the outside looking in all my life and there's a reason that the Frankenstein Monster has always been a character I've intensely related to. How is this much different?
 
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