By Holly
I think I too often focus on what it means to “be in the world, but not of the world,” rather then trusting God with my circumstances and relationships. Jeremy and I were talking about this phrase the other day and we decided we don’t like that it still suggests a definite separation of the secular and the spiritual. This idea reminds me of the scene in the Two Towers where Merry and Pippin are with Treebeard and they can no longer convince the Tree Hearders to fight Isengard. Pippin suggests that they return home to the Shire
If God’s Kingdom is here and now, how can we be salt and light to the world in dark places? I often struggle with this tension because Christ is calling us to be open to all relationships and to be bold about our life in Christ. We have to take risks with people and be praying about where God can use us in every day life. Too often I think like Pippin and want to turn to what is comfortable and easy but at the same time I know that I would never go back to my old life. This calling is difficult and it is a reality of God’s Kingdom. I think too often Christians clump together instead of scattering ourselves around our cities, to be a part of culture. We are of this world and God is calling us to go beyond it to seek first His Kingdom and to bring as many people as we can with us. When we take risks and trust God, His victory becomes a reality that we have the opportunity to take part in. The Tree Hearders finally decide to fight Saruman because Merry and Pippin decided to persevere and take a stand.
