In It But Not Of It

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - 1 John 2:15

I was reading an article about the worldwide response to the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's counterattack, specifically in England. This is an excerpt. 

"Which brings me back to Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s speech. When she criticized “multiculturalism”, she was not criticizing the countless immigrants who, like her own parents, have happily integrated into British society. She was criticizing those who haven’t integrated. Those, in fact, who refuse to integrate, and who actively reject British values. Or, in the Home Secretary’s phrase, those who are “in the society but not of the society”. -Then, on Sunday, as hundreds of pro-Palestine activists marched through Manchester, one attendee said she was “full of joy [and] pride” at what had happened. And, at a similar demonstration in Brighton, a woman described Hamas’s attacks as “beautiful and inspiring”."

When I was in grade school the United States was described as a "melting pot", a blending of many cultures and races, all embracing one another and the ideals penned in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. But for some time, like Great Britian, our country has also struggled with the challenges brought on by multi-culturalism. The U.S. is longer a melting pot, if it ever really was. 

Radin that article I wondered, "what if the underlying issue in Britain is religious and not nationalistic?" Suppose those Islamic immigrants view their Islamic faith as having primacy over their allegiance to the United Kingdom. And what if the enmity having its origin being between Ishmael and Issac, the Arabs and the Jews, dominates those immigrants thinking and beliefs.  I suspect what we are watching is, at its roots, a religious issue and not a national allegiance issue.  

So, let's consider our faith for a moment. As Christians we have been called out of the culture we live in. Only rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and withholding that which is God's. There may come a day, and it may be nearer than you think that we Christians will be called out as cruel, haters, unpatriotic even by our own national culture because of a stand we must take in obedience to God's revealed will. We are commanded to not integrate into the culture, but we, instead are to live alongside those who do not share our beliefs. 

The difference between our response and that of Islam is unlike those of Islam who hate people who do not share their faith and revel in their deaths, we are called to love them, in spite of what they put their faith in. Why? Because God loves them. We are not to participate in their sin and disobedience.

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I [Jesus] have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." - John 15:19

How long will Christians be tolerated? I don't know. But I do know that the Bible says there is a day coming when we won't be. My counsel to you is the same as the Lord's encouragement to all of us. 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone