Rules of Engagement - Part 1
“In
the world, but not of it”*. It’s a well-known Christian
catch-cry. And it actually sums up really well what Christ-followers should
do. We should connect in the world, and engage with people. Be you.
And if you want to wear a leather jacket, wear a leather jacket. I
can’t afford one, so I wear vinyl. No one can tell. If you want to
spend money on fashion… there’s nothing inherently wrong with
that. What’s the alternative anyway? Deliberately uncool? A jacket
from the 70s? Actually, they’re cool these days. HOWEVER… this we stretch it too far if we apply it to areas
of morality, and issues of the heart. Let's think of an artist we all know and love very much...
Kanye
West has been rapping a long time. Eight years ago now, he
rapped: “They tell you… preach us, teach us, Jesus; Okay,
look up now, they done stole your streetness” (in the song "Good Morning"). A few years
earlier, he rapped “God show me the way because the devil’s
tryna’ bring me down”** and one of the ways he does this is
by tempting us to become like the world – in a bad sense. Whenever we stand at crossroads like everyone does, we need to think about Scriptures like 1 John 2:15 etc and Matthew 6:24. I love Kanye, but I don’t wanna see more creative believers go in the same
direction, because in the end, it will only lead to hurt and regret. I’m pressing
this point (again) because it’s so important.
If
being cool means getting drunk on Saturday night before church the
next morning, I don’t wanna be cool. If I have to sleep around to
be with the “in” crowd... then count me "out". I don’t want so called “streetness”, if I have to stop following Jesus to get it. The
truth is though that Christ is out in the streets, and the streets is
where you'll find his true followers. In the world. Not off.
As
we follow him, in a sense, we redefine what is cool. When it comes to heart attitudes/behaviours……. I’d say, being caring is cool. I’d say, helping
people is cool. I'd say showing "love" for thy neighbor – is cool!!! We aren’t meant
to be “of the world” in a bad sense, or in the sense of choosing "sin" etc. The big
“C” word (compromise) won't help you live out your calling. And
of course on the other hand… neither will being deliberately
uncool/isolating yourself from the world, just for the sake of it.
What purpose does that serve?
Obviously,
we need to become good at engaging culture. In. Not off.
We
have been sent into the world as believers (see John 17:18), obviously with a purpose. A mission even. And it's impossible to live
out this mission "in the world" today without cultural
engagement. Simple as that. If you walk into a shop, and someone says
“how are you”, whatever you say back is engaging culture. The
last thing we want to do is be sloppy in our cultural engagement.
“I look back on my life like what
a fool
cos now my life might redefine what
is cool
...fresh prince, barely old enough
to rule..
Me without God, is Tiger Woods
without golf courses
Now I be cooler than popsicles on
porches
...fashion game of my life
brightened up
It's a dark world folk gotta lighten
up” - Blake Young (Hip Hop artist) song is: here.
IN THE WORLD //
NOT OF IT
*See John 17:11,14-18 **From the song "Jesus Walks" (like all of us, he has a dream.)
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