The world has a saying that “the old order changeth, giving place to new,” but in the last few years someone has modified this, saying that “the old order changeth, and happy is he that changeth with it.” As far as man and his relationships to the world around him are concerned, the latter statement is true, for those who fail to recognize the changes in the world in which they live and move are doomed to constant tension, anxiety and conflict. But where does this leave the Christian, when the culture all around him is changing? The Lord Jesus Himself told His disciples, “Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19). In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” How is the believer to deal with a changing culture without compromising his stand as a Christian?
Not of the World
As with many other questions in spiritual things, the answer to the above questions involves keeping a proper balance in our outlook on this world. This can often be very difficult, and it can only be done in fellowship with the Lord and in relying on His Word. The Lord Jesus, before He went to the cross, gave His disciples instructions which are often called “the upper room ministry.” In His prayer to His Father in John 17, I would suggest that the Lord Jesus alludes to this balance in our attitude to this world. In verse 11, He says, “I am no more in the world, but these are in the world.” Then, in verse 14, He says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” In seeking to have a right attitude to the values and culture of the world around him, the believer must remember that he is in the world, yet not of the world.
Awareness in the World
During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus certainly was well aware of and understood the culture that was around Him. He not only saw and understood what went on in the Jewish world, but He also knew well what was happening in the Gentile world, which at that time ruled the land of Israel. Some might reason that because He was God, He knew all this as God. This is true, yet as a perfect Man, and with the same human heart (sin apart) as His creature, He took an interest in all that went on around Him. He was the most accessible of men, and He knew how to relate to the various individuals with whom He came into contact. He could approach an educated and highly cultured man like Nicodemus in one way, yet speak to the woman at Sychar’s well in a totally different way. He knew Herod’s character and could readily refer to him as “that fox” (Luke 13:32), while He could speak of current events such as the falling down of the tower of Siloam or a bloody massacre of Galileans by Pilate (Luke 13:1-5).
Likewise, in the early days of the church, preachers like Paul were well aware of the culture around them, and they could speak of it as the occasion required. When Paul addressed the Jews (Acts 22), he could speak in their language and in a way that they could understand. The fact that none are recorded as believing at that time in no way reflects on the faithfulness of the message or the relevance of Paul’s approach. On the other hand, when Paul addressed the Athenians on Mars’ hill (Acts 17), he spoke in a very different way, using one of their many altars as a starting point and quoting one of their own poets.
I would suggest that this shows a pattern for us, in that both our blessed Master and also His faithful servant understood and related to the culture and thinking that was around them. They did not isolate themselves so that they were unknown; rather, they were generally well-known. When the Lord Jesus came before Pilate, He was already a familiar figure, and Pilate even knew that for envy the Jewish leaders had delivered Him. (Seeing he knew this, Pilate’s crime of condemning the Lord Jesus was all the more serious.) When Paul and his company came to Thessalonica, the Jews cried out, “They that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6). The world of that day knew Paul very well.
Separation
Some dear believers, in seeking to be separate from the world, have isolated themselves to such an extent that the world scarcely knows them. Some have even distinguished themselves by very unusual and sometimes antiquated dress and surroundings, to show clearly that they do not relate to the common culture. If they are known, they do not bear any significant testimony, other than being thought of as distant and unapproachable. This often ministers to spiritual pride rather than godliness. Let us not fall into this snare, for we are in the world and should be in contact with it.
In some ways, younger people can often do this in a better way than those who are aged, for they have grown up in the current culture, while those who are much older have generally been accustomed to a different age. We see this typified in David’s life. When he was young, he killed Goliath, and he served as an encouragement and an example to others of how one could, with God’s help, defeat the enemy. However, when he became an older man, we find that Ishbibenob, of “the sons of the giant,” was “girded with new armor” (2 Sam. 21:16 JND), and David was not used to it. Evidently, the son of the giant with new armor was too much for David, and a younger man, Abishai, had to come to his rescue. So today, those who are older may find that younger ones, if they walk with the Lord, can be more effective in engaging those of the popular culture today, because they are more familiar with it.
This is not to say that older ones cannot be useful in modern culture, for their age and experience gives them a perspective that younger ones do not have. So each needs the other, and they should work together.
Conformity
As a balance to all this, as we have seen from Scripture, believers are not of the world, for they should not be part of the world system that sinful man has developed. This is why we get the instructions “Be not conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:20) and “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). In keeping with this, the Lord Jesus, while the most accessible of men, was likewise the most separate of men, when it came to being part of the world system. He passed through this world without directly touching its social structure, its politics or its entertainment. Likewise, He was never involved in its sin or compromised Himself in order to reach people. He was always “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26).
Likewise, the apostles and others who preached the gospel in the early church were separate from this world, for they followed a rejected Christ. They were fully in touch with what went on in their world, but they walked as those who were not part of its course or ambitions. Paul could say to the Philippians, “Our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour” (Phil. 3:20 JND). Those who knew Him fully realized this, for Paul’s life was apart from the course of this world.
Ready to Speak
You and I, as believers, should be clearly set apart from this world. We should not simply go about our lives in this world as others do, but we should be living witnesses to the grace that has separated us from it. We should be ready to speak out clearly when the common culture and lifestyle contradicts God’s claims. As the world’s culture deviates further from God’s thoughts, faithful believers may well stand out more and more, as their walk and ways are in contrast to this world. I was impressed many years ago by a brother who was questioned as to his views on a moral dilemma that was being hotly debated among many people, as public opinion was calling for a radical change to the laws of the country. He answered, “My own opinion is not worth anything, but I will gladly give you God’s position on the matter.” His answer carried weight, even if it was not popular, because it was backed up by God’s Word.
More than this, we should be willing and “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). It is one thing to understand the culture that is all around us, but another thing to recognize that which is contrary to God’s claims and speak out against it. This is not in order to set the world right, for we know that this will come about only by judgment. But we should warn men of the judgment to come, in order that they might come to Christ and be saved. Noah did this before the flood and was called “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), although he did not get many converts. But God was glorified, which is more important than whether men paid attention.
Grace and Salt
In speaking of the character of His kingdom, the Lord Jesus could say, “Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13), while Paul tells us, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6). The believer is to show the grace of God, and his feet are to be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15), but there must always be that heavenly character in his life and speech. God’s claims must be brought in, so that the conscience of those in this world may be reached. This comes only with constant dependence on the Lord and seeking grace from Him to respond properly in every situation.
But God gives the grace for this, and He will give the wisdom too, if we ask Him. We must remember that we are left here in this world to represent and look after His interests, not to please ourselves. It is a privilege to do this until we are called home!
W. J. Prost