If you are in the Christian faith very long then you will soon find there is a dichotomy-being in the world not of the world.  You will also find that a discussion on that dichotomy will often put people on both sides of the fence.   There are those who will tell us to withdraw from everything.  “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold” (to borrow a phrase from Romans 12:1) is the rallying cry of this side.  The pendulum swing of this side is something like the Essene community of biblical days or the groups today that say, “No movies.  No long hair.  No pants on women.  No mixed swimming. Etc.”  Notice the abundance of “No.”  On the other hand there are those who embrace the culture and almost brag about being like it.  They swear like it, smoke like it, drink like it, act like it, etc.  There has got to be a middle ground where we can stand!  I believe there is.

The Bible makes it clear that followers of Jesus are to be double listeners-we listen to the culture but also listen (more importantly in my eyes) to the Bible.  We find answers in the Word and not in the paper or magazines.   The tragedy is that some people never examine anything, they don’t put some belief system or action under the microscope and look at it from the Word’s viewpoint.  I am going to point the finger at myself as well.  As a pastor, I know I am being watched.  But I hunger for acceptance and to be viewed as a “success” in the eyes of the church community, other pastors, the local church I pastor, and even my own family.  Adopting marketing techniques and leadership structures and approaches may not gibe with Scripture.

So everything goes back to Scripture.  Everything.  Examine the culture but always use the magnifying glass of Scripture to bring things into clearer focus.  That is one of my challenges for myself this new year. What about you?  What do you plan to do this year that focuses on Scripture?  I would like to hear your thoughts and it may even be something I may want to implement.