COGWA Members App
Feast App
ROKU AppSet Apart for God
Written by Melody Hess
In this world, acceptance by peers seems to trump just about everything else. What does the Bible say about fitting in with the world as opposed to standing out for God?
As we go about our daily lives, we face a lot of pressure to fit in with those around us. Not wanting to be the odd man out, we often get caught up in trying to imitate our peers—listening to the same music, watching the same movies and wearing clothes that have been deemed currently “in fashion.”
Life experience has taught us that standing out too much exposes us to cruel ridicule. We have all witnessed or been the victim of venomous gossip (“did you see what Susie is wearing—she looks SO hideous”) or others’ taunting (“Jack is so lame—he never wants to come party with us”).
In the world, fitting in takes on such importance that it trumps almost everything else. It’s more important to earn the acceptance of your friends than it is to live by godly standards that most people consider restrictive, out-of-date and inapplicable to modern society. Most teens and young adults you meet at church are stuck in the middle, not wanting to be completely isolated from or ostracized by their friends, but also wanting to make good choices that please God and honor their parents.
Balance and the bottom line
There is a balance to be struck. Just before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:15-17).
The bottom line is that we are still living in this world, despite the fact that our focus is on God and the wonderful new world that He is preparing us for. We must learn to navigate through the difficulties of this present evil age, developing godly character as we are faced with circumstances that are contrary to His way of life. We have also been exhorted to shine as lights in a dark environment, illuminating our surroundings by reflecting Christ’s character.
A refreshing difference
The word sanctify means “set apart”—which means that those observing us should be able to see a refreshing difference. Our friends (even if they don’t say so) should enjoy our company because we don’t trash talk others, use foul language, violate our sexual purity or entertain ourselves with inappropriate media. And if the people we hang out with don’t appreciate these things, then it is important for us to find friends who do support our efforts to live the right way.
The only way for us to have a positive influence on others is to be around others, which is why Christ said, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:15). In order to point others toward God, we must be able to relate to them without compromising our values.
In the same passage in Matthew 5, Christ calls us the “salt of the earth.” But if we abandon obeying His commandments, we become salt without flavor, which doesn’t do any good. We should not seek to fit in and do things like everyone else does, but we should seek to be kind, loving and compassionate people that others are naturally inclined to listen to.
Careful about comparisons
One thing that we must be careful about is comparing ourselves to one another rather than to the standard that Christ has set. Sometimes we fudge our success by measuring our behaviors against other people. We think, “Well, maybe this isn’t the best movie, but at least it’s not as bad as what they’re watching.”
The only One we can compare our actions to is Christ. Sadly, sometimes even those we should be able to look up to—like our friends at church—fail to meet His standard. In these cases, instead of giving in, we can be the one to stand for what is right and encourage others to do so as well. This is what it means to truly live like someone whom God has “set apart” for His purpose.
If we seek God and ask Him to help us become more like Him each and every day, and to be a light and an example to others, we can be a powerful, positive influence, leading others in the right direction.
Melody Hess is a microbiologist who is working on her masters in nutrition at the University of Cincinnati. Melody and her husband, Jeremy, attend the Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.
See these related links:
