Friday, March 2, 2007
"Living for the World"
So we've all heard people say "living for world vs. living for God" in one way or another. I have said it before. You probably have to. But I think that that mindset as a whole within the church has done more damage than good. I think we have given the enemy far too much power over the idea of "the world" and if we are to be people living for God's dream for the world, then that word, "the world", deserves a little redemption. Because if we never change our outlook on the world, we will never live as though it is being redeemed. We will always view it negetively, as sort of the antithesis to God and his ways, which, I believe, is one reason (small as it may be) why so many Christians live as if this world is going to waste and "real life" is after death and until then, we can treat the this place as some throw-away earth. It is time that living for the world and living for God be brought into harmony and that we begin to think of the world in the context the Psalmist puts it in when he says "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it." That everywhere is holy ground, being redeemed and brought back into harmony with its Creator. Living for the world, I would argue, is what we are here for and living for God cannot be separated from it.
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5 comments:
Man that's....deep! As usual. I think Christians have went a little to far in the concept of us against the world. Our enemy is not the world, but Satan and until we see that our battles are not being fought properly. Take a look at the economy. Christians have taken the separation of God and world to the extent of Scripture mints and chocolate. There are bigger battles that need to be fought and our first concern should be that of winning souls for the kingdom.
to the jewish mind, heaven was the realm where things are as god intended them to be...not necessarily a fixed geographical place. and so, if there is a realm where things are as god intended it to be, there must be a realm where things aren't. psalm 115:16 says that "the highest heavens belong to the lord, but the earth he has given to man". so it seems that there is this place that god rules, and then that the world is a place where god has allowed for other realms of authority. it's like the world is this place where we have a choice, as one writer put it, "for hell to invade the world, or heaven to invade the world."
and i am encouraged, by people living in this world, who are charging into the worldy hell of people dying because they don't have the right medicines, and bringing the wordly heaven of relief, and aid, and comfort with them. and people charging into the worldly hell of people not having a place to live or food to eat, and bringing the worldly heaven of shelter and nourishment along with them. the list could go on.
it seems to me that it really has everything to do with the world. with our humanity. and the church should be existing to be this new kind of humanity that is choosing to make the world choose the realm where things are as god intended them to be. because really, that is the best way to live.
you should really read the other post on my page to realize i'm not. i just got bored one day. secondly, i have not been around, you are correct. don't know why, just seems like i havent. what's your relationship status, cause i would like to hook you up. anyways, we should meet up at bw's sometime. gergory and the hawk, you like?
andyman - it was so good seeing you on my visit awhile back. i miss you all. what are you learning these days? just let me know when you want to set up that book signing - haha! i'll bring my sharpie!
I shouldn't have expected to come to your blog and read about something that wasn't deep. In fact, I just watched "breathe" (nooma) again today. Those movies amaze me. That one "luggage" was simply astounding. And have you seen "noise"? If not look into it!
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