“I’ll have some coffee with my sandwich, please,” I told the waiter who came to take our dinner order. The girl next to me smirked and in a mocking tone said, “I know your type!”. How ambiguous, I thought.
“Did she stereotype me as an uncool person just because I did not order alcohol like the others?”
“Am I am an outcast here? A misfit?”
“Am I less because I don’t drink alcohol?”
I had a string of questions in my head but I decided to let go and enjoy the rest of my evening. Two days later, a fellow classmate who was not present with us for the dinner said, “A tip–don’t order coffee during dinner; people were making fun of you.” I felt like I was pushed into some deep pit. I was a laughing stock just because I did not drink alcohol! How crazy is that?
“Should I try to fit in?” –No, can’t do.
“Should I just avoid them?” –Maybe, but isn’t that a little immature?
“Should I find new friends?” –Maybe, but what guarantee do I have that this won’t happen again?
It felt like a Catch-22 situation. I did not know what to do or how to move on. I was filled with anger, pain and a lot of hurt. So much that I became super defensive and began plotting my vindictive comeback to all the people who scoffed at me. I took culture, faith and my principles into account and drafted an elaborate argument. A quagmire of self-righteousness, hurt and anger, I would say. But it still did not feel right to me.
That night, when I was scrolling through a blog by David Mathis, Executive Editor for Desiring God, I saw an article titled “In the world, but not of the world”. “Just what I needed!”–I thought.
The writer quoted John 17: 14-19– this is what Jesus prayed to His Father on the eve of His crucifixion:
14” I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Jesus speaks of the Word and how it is not of the world, just like Him. Surely, Jesus expected His disciples also to be not of the world. The following verse is a request of sorts that God would keep the people in the world but protected from the evil one.Also, for a purification through the Word of God. Wow! –how amazing is the compassion Jesus has, not only for His followers but also for the ones who loathed Him.
A statement in the blog that touched me the most is– “Being ‘not of the world’ isn’t the destination in these verses but the starting place.”
Take a minute to read that again!
All this while, I thought this is where we are supposed to head to. But, it is the starting point. It is from here that we move forward on our faith journey.
In verse 18, Jesus says, “As You have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” We are sent into the world!This means, we are not “of the world” but “sent into”. Emphasis on “sent” –indeed, we are sent with a mission to the world and this does not mean that we disassociate from this world.
When we embrace Jesus and identify with Him, we are not of the world–as per verse 16. As followers of Jesus, we have not only been crucified to the world, but also raised to a new life and sent back in to share this freedom with others. We have been rescued from the darkness and made the light as per Mathew 5:14, “You are the light of the world”–this is not merely to flee the darkness, but to guide our steps as we go back in rescue others, to show them the light.
We are “sent in” with purpose. We may be mocked at, rejected or even isolated but our light shines through in the darkest of darkness.
You are “sent in” your circle of friends, not to fit in but to emulate Christ in all that you do. You are “sent in” to that set of relatives who constantly put you down, not to judge them or defend yourself but to show the compassion of Christ. You are “sent in” to the particular city you are in, even if you dislike it, not to constantly complain or bicker but to fulfill the purpose God has for you.
You are “sent in” for a reason.
You are “sent in” by God.
You are “sent in” with a mission.
Actively seek God and know your purpose for the season you are in. When you knock, He surely opens the door.
Consider this:
I live among people from diverse cultures and sometimes it becomes hard to be in their good books. However, I believe we are not here to please men. Cultures may be different, people too, but the Word of God, His Good News is constant across the globe. As Christians, the Great Commission is our goal. When in doubt about certain unpleasant situations, I ask myself three questions: