In the world, but not of it. As Christians we hear that slogan as a rallying cry, trying to keep purity within our hearts as well as within our ranks. The fight is to keep the world out so that we are not dirtied by it.
The rebellion of Jewish faithful in second century BC was a fight against assimilation. Their oppressors were defiling the temple and leading people astray. They were being influenced by the paganism around them. The Jewish victory and resulting dedication of the temple are celebrated at Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication.
Like those rebels, we fight to keep the world out. We manage our external environment so as to not get soiled or contaminated by the world – wrong movies or books, hearing coarse language, associating with the wrong people. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to not be of this world, He has declared that it is already so. And because we are not of it, we can go forth into it and be His light.
Jesus modeled this for us in His engagement with the culture – eating with the social outcast, talking to the morally questionable Samaritan woman, quoting contemporary plays. I think that’s His call to us. Reminding us that we are not of it – but be sure to be in it!
Let the candles that shine this holiday be a reminder to acknowledge the Light that has come. I don’t need to fear the darkness around me because I am not of this world. I want to move confidently IN the world to share the light He has given.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. John 17:16
