Society would have us believe that we have to be like the world to win the world. In fact, I believe this mindset to be a lie straight from hell. God has called us to be holy as He is holy. We are to be a sanctified people. The word sanctification in the Bible means, "to separate from things profane and dedicate to God; to consecrate." This is the heartbeat of the true Christian.
Back in the 1950’s, a famous actor pulled aside a well-known preacher of the gospel and said, “Billy, don’t ever try to compete with Hollywood, because Hollywood will always win. You give the world the one thing Hollywood can’t — the timeless truth of the gospel.” In many ways, we in the church today need to heed this actor’s advice. If, in this context, “Hollywood” represents what’s “appealing” in our society, then it seems that in some circles we’ve lost trust in the timeless truth of the gospel. We’ve spent too much of our churches’ time and money trying to “do Hollywood” in a thousand different ways.
If we fail to be different from the world, we’ll never make a difference for the world or in the world. We’ve been given a new heart and a new mind, a new way and a new destiny. That’s why we march to the beat of a different drummer. We operate according to a different standard, with different goals, different motivations, and an altogether different perspective on money, lifestyle, and relationships. Our thoughts are to be different, our affections different, our behavior different. Our priorities, pursuits, and passions are to be different.
We need to be reminded of the antithesis between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1–3). Much of what the world esteems as wise, God considers foolish; much of what the world dismisses as foolish, God considers wise. Being “in style” with God often means being “out of style” with the world. Therefore we need to be much more critical regarding “the things of this world,” things which we so quickly embrace under the guise of evangelism and outreach.
Many Christians these days insist that in order to reach the world, we must “appeal” to the culture - interpreted, become attractive to the world. With honest zeal, they strive to look like the world, talk like the world, sound like the world, and act like the world. They endeavor to make church feel like the world. With evangelistic fervor, ministries orchestrate efforts according to the tastes of this world: They ask the world what they like, then give the world what they want. Their efforts and attitudes become guided and shaped more by cultural trends and gimmicks than by God’s truth. With the introduction of “relevance” comes the ideology that whatever is “in fashion,” whatever is “cool” whatever is “appealing to the world” becomes more important than what’s theologically sound.
But in following such a course, we inadvertently communicate that we have nothing unique to offer, nothing deeply spiritual nor profoundly transforming. Our calling in our culture is to live in contrast to it. In this world, we’re God’s other world representatives. Our privilege and responsibility is to be his people in a world that has abandoned him. Christians make a difference by being different; they don’t make a difference by being the same.
Wayne Francis says, "Our distinction is not a hindrance but leverage to impact the world." Let us never forget that we make a difference by being different. God has called us to be set apart. Don't be afraid to stand out. And remember this, when you stand up for God you will stand out.
Note the car in the above picture. It is leading the way, and is in color while the other cars are in black and white. We too should be out front leading other's to Christ and not be ashamed of being different. Besides, the un-churched person is really looking for someone and something that is real.
Toby Mac observes, "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who confess Jesus with their lips but deny Him by their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Let's unite to make a difference...
