Be Different

My friend’s questions continue with this: God calls us to be separate from the world, set apart and holy. It seems within the emergent church movement, there is this strong desire to be just like the unbeliever because that is the only way you can share the Gospel with them. In terms of your dress, language, movies and t.v. you watch, and your Sunday morning concerts. How do you say you distinguish yourself from the secular world?

This is a great question, and personally, a great tension. As Christians, we follow Jesus, and try to live as He would live. We’re called to be holy, set apart, and live like “called out ones.” At the same time, we’re called to live in the world, rub shoulders with lost people, and make a difference.

On one hand Jesus said “love not the world,” and then another time he said “love your neighbor.” I think the “love not the world” focuses on a worldview. Romans 1 talks about people who elevate their position above God and only seek their own interests. They worship the created rather than the creator. That’s a wordly view. On the other hand, we’re surrounded by people, and we’re called to love them and be near them. All in all, a delicate balance, and there are probably strong opinions on both sides.

There are things that I don’t do because I am a Christian. There are things that I don’t say because I am a Christian. But I don’t think a checklist – I don’t drink; I don’t cuss; I go to church – is all that God had in mind for being different. I think it’s much bigger and much more important than that. I think my children are different from most children because of the Biblical worldview that we teach. I think that my overall thoughts and beliefs are different from the world because of how I was raised and what I read and think. It’s a renewed mind that transforms us, not a renewed behavioral checklist.

As far as the specifics of dress…I don’t know what dress like the world or dress like Jesus means. Should I wear robes and sandals and ride on a donkey? I don’t think so. I think Jesus dressed like a first century carpenter…he looked normal for his day. That’s how I dress. I dress like me. I dress like a lot of other people. When I go to a wedding, I wear a suit because that’s what’s socially acceptable. It’s just normal, I guess. I don’t think it really matters if a person wears a suit to church or comes in sandals. The Bible doesn’t tell people how to dress when they come to church, unless you’re an Old Testament priest. In different religious traditions, pastors and priests wear different things, and that’s cool. I can’t imagine getting to heaven and Jesus saying, “Well done, except you didn’t dress right.” I wear jeans and polo shirts or button up shirts nearly everyday of my life.

I do think it’s pretty funny that the standard “uniform” for young church planters these days seems to be jeans, an untucked long-sleeved shirt, and a goatee. For the record, I’ve had a goatee since I was married. And the main reason is because my wife doesn’t like it when I shave it off. And I've been untucking my shirt ever since I was a kid and my mom wanted me to tuck it in. :)

I personally love stories, and movies are stories. I go to movies pretty frequently, but there are some movies that I won’t go see. I will see an R rated move like the Passion of the Christ or Saving Private Ryan. I won’t go see a movie that’s filled with nudity, because that’s not spiritually healthy for me. I don’t go see horror movies and slasher movies, because there’s a check in my spirit on that. I don’t think all movies are evil, but I think some are not appropriate for me and my family.

Same goes with music. I don’t just listen to Christian worship music. I think a lot Christian music stinks. I like all kinds of music, because I’m a wanna be rock star. ☺ But there is some stuff that I don’t listen to, because it’s filled with profanity, vulgarity and sexual stuff. This is why I don’t listen to much hip hop. I think God gives us a conscience and we’re to operate with wisdom. At Oak Leaf, we play the music of the day. Music is something that can help us connect to God…it’s like a language. Guitars, drums and keyboards are like words and letters. It’s a part of our culture and a way of life. In the Old Testament, David used instruments that we no longer have. Stringed instruments were around before keyboards and organs. And in the 1800’s, organs in churches became popular. It’s a constant ebb and flow.

I guess it would be a lot easier if God would have just given us a constantly updating list of do’s and don’ts. But instead, He gave us His Spirit, which leads and guides. I think blanket statements like all movies are bad, or pastors should wear suits, fall so short of what God wants. It’s not the external, it’s the internal. It’s not just our actions, it’s our actions plus our thoughts and our motives that God will judge.

People put the line at different places, and there is freedom in Christ, but your conscience is a God-given guide. And we have lots of Biblical principals to guide us.

Comments

[SHARON GREEN]

Very, very well stated. I have had this same question in my heart many times as well. Being an older (in age) Christian, there are certain practices that were a part of my worship just because. No convictions, just because that was what everyone else did. I grew as a Christian in spite of this and God has used each experience in my life to make me more like him. Only recently (past few years) have I re-examined some of those practices. I believe he has called us to separated, but along with that, a testimony. Others need to see Him in our lives. Thus, my heart's desire, that other's see Jesus in me. Whether in a movie theatre, a concert, on the beach, etc., etc., Never bringing shame to my Lord Savior. I loved this post and it personally spoke to me. I know Michael that you are different from the world and I am so thankful you are.

[childmin]

I am loving this series of posts you are doing. As a staff person at a church trying to move in more of this sort of direction, I find myself nodding with the way you are explaining things. Thanks for explaining what I think and don't do very well at saying. You're right on!

[Mike D.]

Hi Mike,

I read this post with appreciation. I liked how you biblically and lovingly answered these questions that many Christians have. But then I read your "If I were..." blog entry.

How is it that you can be so loving and pastoral in one post, and then slam fellow Christians by telling them to "get a life"? Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (James 3:11).

Thank you,

Mike D.