“They are not of the world even as I am not of it.” John 17:16
They are no more defined by the world than I am defined by the world.
(The Message)
“She has well defined cheekbones.”
“It was a well defined plan.”
Well defined: we hear the term frequently and take its meaning for granted. After reading Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Jesus’ words, however, perhaps we can search for clarification. To define means to establish the character or essence of a person or thing. Who or what is it that gives definition, meaning to my life? Who describes who or what I should be, what I should look like, what career path I should follow, how much money I should earn, what books I should read?
To watch Jesus walking in the midst of his world—his culture—is to give us a picture of a well defined Christian. He didn’t condemn the culture, he didn’t seek power in the culture and he lived harmoniously in a culture rife with discordance. He lived out the spirit of the message given to Jewish exiles in Jeremiah’s time. Without taking on the character of the culture, Jesus “made himself at home and worked for the country’s welfare” (see Jeremiah 29:4-7, The Message). He was in the world but not of the world.
It was not Jesus’ aim nor desire that we be removed from the world, from the culture in which we find ourselves. He has planted us here to be reflections of his grace and love, to be salt and light to a culture that often doesn’t even know it is thirsty and dark. What if the culture saw in Christ followers such similarity to the Savior that they were stunned into silence? Or perhaps at least stunned into questions? What if our character—our very essence—was so Christ like that we would resemble the tastiest food on a banquet table…observable and deeply desired?
Look for ways to be well defined, developing the characteristics of Christ in whatever world he has placed you.
Father, living in my culture is often intimidating. I want to huddle in a safe corner with my like minded friends, safe from the surrounding dangers. But you, in accordance with the prayer of your Son, protect me and give me the commission to live into my world with the good news of Christ and with the power of your Holy Spirit.
By Marilyn Ehle