Christians! Do you feel "in the world, not of it"?

Question

Are you only here to wait for God to 'reclaim' you? Is the world merely a testing ground?

Personally I find this an extraordinary attitude. Here we are, surrounded by an amazing world (however it came about) and I see people saying that they feel like sojourners and aliens in a foreign land.

If you were invited to a fabulous banquet would you refuse the food because you expected something better to turn up later? That sounds plain ungrateful!

But perhaps I've misunderstood? Is the world more than just a ‘waiting room’?

Views please. And non-Christians are welcome to answer, but please keep it polite, thanks!

Answer 1

I, too, understand this phrase slightly differently from how you describe it, so that we are in the world, but don't allow ourselves to 'worship' the things of the world. To me, that means not attaching too much importance to celebs, fashion, TV, DVDs etc. I sometimes feel like an alien here, when I hear the idiotic conversations around me. It's that I don't feel any connection with most people, but occasionally I do feel that someone has a special something, and I feel most at home with my relatives and with other Christians.

I do not subscribe to the 'this is just a waiting room' view, in fact it winds me up. I've known people who are not fulfilling their full potential, spending their time thinking only of what they call 'home'. What a waste of our God-given life. In the next life, there will be no illness, no sorrow. Great. In the meantime, this life isn't perfect, and the next one will be, but until then, I'm enjoying our beautiful world. That's what God intended!

Answer 2

I would be careful to say that the world was just one of anything. It's a rather general way of looking at it.

Yes, it can be looked at as a 'waiting room' but that doesn't quite take care of all the issues, because there are other things to do here, especially when it comes to the ongoing relationship between a believer and God. That's never at a standstill.

So the world has other significance even to the most heavenbound in heart. There's progress to be had especially in the way of bringing the Gospel out to those who want to hear it. Like I was before I was saved.

Answer 3

Actually the world is more than just a waiting ground.. The aforementioned world that Jesus (GOD) was talking about is more on the level of the "world system" that has been against him for so long. IF the actual world itself is so bad, why would HE say the Earth is the Lord's? For his people he does want us to enjoy the actual Earth itself, however he wants us to stay apart from the sins in the world and not to grow complacent b/c he has alot more to offer us in the world to come.

Answer 4

I've been to foreign lands and have enjoyed them very much. I have seen the Eiffel tower, the Sistine chapel, the real Mona Lisa, a bullfight in Madrid, spent months in Paris, the Alps, the Pyrenees and so on. I found them all to be absolutely beautiful. But my Christian wisdom says I am going to be on this earth for about oh I don't know, 70 maybe 80 years. Compared to never ending and being in the presence of God....this ain't my home baby boy. IN the world not OF the world (meaning the man made religions of philosophy, self worship, blessed ignorance and so on. I enjoy with immense pleasure all of the things God made for me while I am here.

Answer 5

This world is here to be enjoyed, this life is to be enjoyed and experienced, (of course I am speaking about the parts that are not sinful) but for Christians we believe that there is better to come.

To simply sit and treat this life as a waiting room is a waste of time and a waste of a God given life...

Jesus said that he has come to give life in all it's fullness, that life begins now and carries on into eternity.

The Bible says we are in this world but not of it, and that is speaking about many things including the mindset of the world and how it is different from the mindset of a Christian in many different ways.

JB

Answer 6

For, as I have often told you before before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is in their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:18-20)

We are not of the world, our minds are on Spiritual things.
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For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:16,17)

We have a Kingdom awaiting us.

Actually we aren't invited to your fabulous banquet, the world hates us.
That's proven just on here with the way people respond to us
with their questions and answers.

Answer 7

Interesting analogies there, you almost made me hungry! Well, to me (not a Christian) the world is certainly more than a waiting room. It is about relishing this life, enjoying its gifts, bearing the tragedies and pain, shouldering one another in turbulent times, laughing together. Finally, by spending your time helping mankind and being grateful for all that you have been blessed with, looking forward to a better life in the hereafter.
Cheers!

Answer 8

Thomas More said that... and he was a catholic (I believe) so how can it be a "protestant" catchphrase!? Yes, a lot of the time I do feel that I can be in the world but not of it... what it means, is you dont get all the worldly stuff, like you know all the flashy cars, the humungous houses, and that you spend your time devoted to your Heavenly Father, and being christ-like and charitable. Basically that you spend your time doing service, as well...

Answer 9

the world here is pretty much like a waiting room.. but one with test in it that will see how faithful you are to God. It doesnt mean we cant indulge in the "feast" that you talk about it just means that we have to be aware of what we are doing to be sure that it is what God wants us to do. We are grateful for everything that God has surrounded us with and he tells us to enjoy them but withen limits and maturally.

Answer 10

The Bible makes it clear that we, as Christians, are not to be of the world. We are not to take part in sinful activities [sin separates us from God, and we are to be holy as He is holy], as demonstrated in the following scriptures:

JOHN 17:14-16
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

HEBREWS 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

JOHN 15:19
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

JAMES 4:4
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God

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I believe the key to remaining in the world, but not of the world is to remember that we are all here for a purpose. We are all part of His plan and His workings, which we may or may not understand, as His ways are higher than our own.

If we can remember that we have a purpose, we won't view the world as simply a waiting room, but as an endless source of opportunities to impact those around us for the better, to bring about change in the world, and to live up to our potential, and accomplish God's will.

Viewing the world as a waiting room would cause inactivity - even apathy - on the part of the viewer. Yes, we wait for His return with anticipation, but in the meantime, we should live each day to the fullest, or else our lives would truly be a waste!