World "View"

John 15:19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15 is a pivotal piece in the overall ministry of Christ. Often, his "I AM" sayings are directed toward the religious or unbelieving but here in the last, the "I am the true vine" proclamation, he sets the stage for the on going ministry of the disciples and makes observations that will be vital to every follower of the Christ.

Throughout this chapter - twelve times -  Jesus uses the word "abide" or a cognate of the word to emphasize his point of abiding in Christ (v. 4), abiding in his love (v. 9), and fruit that is abiding (v. 16).  If you choose, you can replace the word "abide" with the word "remain". The idea and emphasis is the same. And the concept is very weighty in its significance for believers or followers of Christ.

What struck me, as I was reading some comments on this chapter, was a question posed by A. T. Robertson in his "Word Pictures" series. It relates to v. 19 noted above. Robertson presents this question, "Has the world become more Christian or Christians more worldly?" What a great question. What a damning question.

In this day of mega-churches, church growth and an emphasis on entertainment and programs, has the gospel been replaced by good marketing campaigns? Have we moved from the concept of bearing fruit to a methodology which results in plastic fruit.

In our local paper, over the past several months, I have read about kids programs designed to attract adults, ministers taking a seat at the "bar" in order to be available to the patrons for counseling, a church that puts a "flyer" in shot glasses that says, "Give us a shot!", billboards that border on the risque in order to attract attention. It may be the case that these techniques fill the pews, but do they change the heart? 

"Has the world become more Christian or Christians more worldly?"

Does the world view you and I, the Christian community, as a respite place from the environment of chaos - a place of change and re-creation, or just another community program that usurps time and energy without the threat of changing their person?

Father Spirit, help me be an agent of change, not a victim of conformity.