Deliver Me From the "World"

Jesus said that His followers are to be "in the world, but not of it." What did He mean? What is "the world?" Surely it is not a single person, or country. Certainly He is referring to something other than this globe we inhabit. The Earth is somewhat innocuous, in and of itself.

Speaking of His followers, Jesus prayed. "They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world" (John 17:16-18 NLT).  Evidently, whatever the world is, it is the opposite of truth. And we know that God loves the world because He sent Jesus into the world to save it--evidently from lies.

I believe the world represents a collective mindset of God-avoidance. It has its own agenda; its own destination that excludes God at every turn. The world's answer to shared responsibility and community is individualism and isolation. Simon & Garfunkel's song, "I Am a Rock," depicts the ultimate destination of worldly thinking:

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Worldly thinking shuns individual responsibility, flaunts personal beauty, achievements, wealth and wisdom. It never views God or religion as a significant solution to any of its problems. Everything can be found within, or without, or from anywhere but God. This God-avoidance permeates every culture and race and is genetically passed from one generation to the next. Many are not consciously opposed or angry with God, they just don't feel any need for Him. God is irrelevant.

And so Jesus prayed, "I am in them and you [Father] are in me. May they [My followers] experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me" (John 17:22 NLT).

God longs for us [His followers] to need and trust each other; to love one another. To be different. This is such a significant departure from what the world does, when it happens, people stop, watch, and wonder.

"Dear God: Please deliver from the world."  --Rich DuBose

Photos by Stefan Hermans and Barun Patro