Charles Ringsma writes:
There is no virtue in isolating ourselves from the world. This will not safeguard our spirituality. But it will certainly condemn us to irrelevance. There is no virtue in being culturally “trendy” and accepting blindly the latest offering in the round of personal and social “cures.” At the same time, there is no merit in being out of touch with the critical issues of our time. Ellul laments that Christians are usually “several steps behind.” Consequently, they seek to provide answers to questions that people are no longer asking. Instead, the Christian is called to be both relevant and different. If we fail to be relevant, we cannot be heard. If we fail to be different, we have nothing to say. This calls us to both a critical immersion in the issues of the world of our day and in a withdrawal for the purpose of reflection, prayer, and discernment.
Something to think about. Being “in the world, but not of it” is like walking a tightrope – it isn’t easy, but it’s what we’re called to by God.
