In the World, but not Of the World

One of the issues for many Christians has been the challenge of being "in the world" but not "of the world." One of the worst things people can say about your Christian witness is that you're "worldly." Many times, this reference suggests that you're more carnal than you are spiritual. That you're more secular than you are holy. This assessment isn't always correct, let alone fair, but it's still a challenge because a lot of times it makes us feel "less than" as a Christian.

However, we do have a call from God to operate from an "otherworldly" perspective. It's not a perspective based on behavior, but rather spiritual transformation (Romans 12). Because the church historically has looked at the phrase "not of this world" as primarily behavioral, our witness has taken more of a "religious tone" as opposed to a "Christ-like" tone. This is not the will of God. We must gain a better understanding of what it means to operate as "other worldly" in a true and authentic Christian context.

Jesus said in the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, "My Kingdom is not of this world". In order to adopt a truly "other worldly" mind-set, it must start with a "Kingdom Consciousness." The Kingdom of Heaven (for which Jesus was referring to) is radically different than the kingdom of earth (primarily influenced by Satan). If you are not "seeking first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness" (Matthew 6) you will have no capacity to operate appropriately "in the world, but not of the world."

We must also remember that, when God originally made humanity, He made male and female in His Image and after His Likeness (Genesis 1). I believe that by and large, many Christians, when they think of Adam, think of a man pretty much like us, but that he was made without sin. This is incorrect. Adam was a Supernatural Man. And Supernatural, shortened, would make Adam a SUPERMAN. That's why Jesus is referred to as the "last Adam" (1Corinthians 15), because as the Son of Man, He exhibited the same Supernatural characteristics that the First Adam possessed.

Saints, God did not create us to be normal. He created us to be "peculiar" (1Peter 2). Quit trying to fit in. Quit trying to be socially accepted. Embrace the calling that God has placed upon you as His child to operate as a Supernatural Being. Then, not only will you be used by the Father to turn the world upside down, but you'll truly have a witness of what it means to be In the world, but not of the world.