Introduction
Review the setting of Jn. 13-17: Jesus' final meeting with his disciples
before the cross. Here, he explains the identity and purpose of his followers
by detailing their key relationships:
In chapters 14-16, he explains the our unique relationship with the
Holy Spirit (3 KEY ADVANTAGES).
In chapter 15, he explains our unique relationship with him and the
Father (VINE, VINE DRESSER & BRANCHES: abiding).
Now, in chapter 17, Jesus prays for his followers. In this prayer,
he explains another key relationship. It is unfortunate (and ironic,
as we will soon see) that the NASB translates this passage into 17th
century English. While people were struck by the personalness and informality
of Jesus' communication with the Father, the translators have made it
formal.
Read vs 1-13. Here Jesus says he knows his departure is at hand, and
that his followers will be on their own. Read vs 14-20. Here Jesus prays
for his immediate followers and us (vs 20). He is concerned about our
relationship to the world (13 times in this chapter), that we have
the right kind of relationship with it. His prayer sounds ambivalent--almost
contradictory.
On the one hand, he says we are not of the world, and prays that we
may be kept safe and separate from it (vs 14-17). This implies that
there is something very evil and dangerous about the world.
On the other hand, he says he sending us into the world (vs 18).
This implies that there is something very important and desirable about
the world.
Christians often hear that we should be "in the world but not of
it." This dictum comes directly from this passage. We need to understand
this dictum, because our spiritual vitality and effectiveness are affected
by this just as much as by the above relationships. Let's unpack it . . .
NOT OF THE WORLD
When Jesus speaks of the world in vs 14-17, he is referring to the
satanic system which is hostile to God. The world (kosmos)
in this sense is the enemy of God (see 1 Jn. 5:19). It is designed
to distract and seduce people from a love relationship with God. How
does it do this?
Read 1 Jn. 2:15-17. This system is antithetical to God, so loving
it is incompatible with loving God. Notice that "the things of
the world" are not things or people, but rather values:
"The lust of the flesh" refers to HEDONISM--living for
the gratification of physical and sensual desires (HEROIN ADDICT >>
LOVE OF COMFORT)
"The lust of the eye" refers to MATERIALISM--living for
the accumulation and enjoyment of material things (AMERICAN DREAM)
"The boastful pride of life" refers to EGOTISM--living
for self-aggrandizement and people's approval vs. living as a self-effacing
servant for God's approval
Jesus prays in this passage that his followers will be different from
the world ("sanctify") in the area of truth. In other words,
we are to reject conformity to the world's beliefs, ethics, and values.
We need to fight this battle on two fronts:
INDIVIDUAL CONFORMITY: I feel the constant pull toward HEDONISM, MATERIALISM,
and EGOTISM. Don't you? What does it mean if a Christian says he doesn't
feel this pull? Is this evidence of the Holy Spirit? Spiritual maturity
is not having this pull disappear, but rather being more sensitized to it
and coming to your senses more quickly. We also need to be willing
to be different in this area, even if it means being rejected.
CORPORATE CONFORMITY: Sadly, the church often imitates and justifies the world's beliefs, ethics, and values, instead of being a light which exposes its futility and provides guidance for people in the darkness. Because of this, we cannot blindly follow other Christians or denominations.
EXAMPLES: Christo-paganism syncretism (MACUMBA); Liberal naturalism (BULTMANN); Evangelical psycho-babble (INNER CHILD; RECOVERED MEMORIES; RADICAL VICTIMOLOGY) and relativism (BARNA'S STATS ON BELIEFS ABOUT THE BIBLE & ABSOLUTE TRUTH). See also materialism (PROSPERITY DOCTRINE; "PERSONAL PEACE & AFFLUENCE), anti-rationalism (UNVERIFIED MIRACLE CLAIMS; MYSTICS AS EVANGELICAL MENTORS), political power-plays (CHRISTIAN COALITION), and post-modern presuppositions (HERMENEUTICS).
The key to resisting CONFORMITY is not censorship or monasticism;
it is the truth revealed in God's Word (vs 17). But it doesn't operate
like a magic potion, independent of our involvement. We need to take
the time to learn the content of the Word, and then consciously evaluate
every area of life in light of it.
So there is an aspect of the world that we need to avoid--but
there is another aspect of the world that we need to engage . . .
IN THE WORLD
When Jesus speaks of the world in vs 18, he is referring to the people
who need to be reconciled to God (see also vs 21,23). The Father
sent Jesus into the world to die for the people he loves. See also Jn. 3:16,17.
What does it mean to be in the world in this sense?
We should genuinely love non-Christians in spite of their sinful way
of life, and we should be involved with non-Christians, have friendships
with non-Christians, meeting them on their turf, etc.
Jesus was known as "the friend of sinners" because he loved
them and hung out with them on their turf (Matt. 11). Likewise,
Paul in 1 Cor. 5:9,10 was appalled by the idea that Christians
would refuse to associate with sinful non-Christians.
FORTRESS MENTALITY ("Christians against non-Christians"):
The church often communicates personal rejection of non-Christians
because of their wrong beliefs and actions. It wrongly defines the
enemy as people rather than as Satan and the world-system.
ALSO: While we need to protect our children in age-appropriate ways,
we should also transmit this value lest they become self-righteous
Pharisees!
We should practice cultural identification as much as we can without
compromising doctrinally or ethically (FASHION; MUSIC; CINEMA; LANGUAGE;
ALCOHOL; BARS; MEETINGS). People need to acknowledge their sinfulness
and ask Christ for forgiveness, but they do not need to change cultures
to come to Christ.
This was Paul's modus operandi (explain 1 Cor. 9:19-22),
and it should be ours. There is not supposed to be any distinctively
Christian culture!
ANTI-CULTURAL FUNDAMENTALISM: The church often is distinct from the
world's culture, where it should be similar and involved. It often
views cultural issues as though they are moral or doctrinal, when
no such thing is at stake. The evangelical church has erected unnecessary
barriers between Christ and the people he loves! A whole generation
of people has been needlessly alienated from Christianity because
of wrong thinking in this area!
We should refuse to accept the criticism "worldly" in this
area. This is both superficial and profoundly unbiblical. We should
be willing to stay in touch with our culture--even if this is a sacrifice--so
we can more effectively reach the people in it.
I am afraid that some of us may have this area "bass-ackwards"--different
from the world culturally and similar in beliefs, ethics and values (NO
SECULAR MUSIC WHILE AWASH IN MATERIALISM; TEE-TOTALLERS WHILE GUILTY OF
TRIBALISM)!
But Jesus speaks of something else we'll need if we want to be effective
with the world . . .
Unity With Other Christians
Read vs 20-23. What is this oneness? He isn't talking about organizational
unity (ECUMENISM is not desirable), or even functional cooperation between
believing churches (although this is desirable wherever possible). He
is talking about personal love relationships between Christians.
This unity mirrors the unity between the Father and Jesus. This is
obviously a personal, relational unity, rather than organizational.
Vs 26 also defines this unity as "the love you have for me."
This echoes Jesus' mandate in 13:34,35. In both passages, the result
is effective witness to non-Christians. "Being one" therefore
is the same as "loving one another as I have loved you."
The rest of the New Testament consistently describes this unity in
terms of personal love relationships between Christians (see Eph. 4:1,2).
Our spiritual union with God should result in unity in personal love
relationships. The world's root problem is alienation from God, and the
primary symptom of this is alienation from other people. If we want the
world to listen to us when we say we have found the way back to God through
Jesus, we need to validate this claim by displaying relationships and
community that work.
"The church that convinces people that there is a God is a church
that manifests what only a God can do, that is, to unite human beings
in love . . . There is nothing that convinces people
that God exists or that awakens their craving for him like the discovery
of Christian brothers and sisters who love one another . . . The
sight of loving unity among Christians arrests the non-Christian. It
crashes through his intellect, stirs up his conscience and creates a
tumult of longing in his heart because he was created to enjoy the very
thing that you are demonstrating.
[1]
God has given us the resources for this kind of unity (HOLY SPIRIT;
TRUTH; PURPOSE), but it doesn't happen automatically.
Have you begun a personal relationship with Christ?
Are you ready to work at forming personal relationships with other
Christians? We have to decide to make it a priority in our lives,
and then we have to work at Christ-centered relationships when they
get difficult.
Some of us are stuck because of our unwillingness to forgive . . .
Some of us are stuck at the starting line . . .
Footnote
[1] John White, The Fight
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1979), pp. 149,150.