Are we too comfy?

How do we think of the society that we live in? We were looking yesterday at Acts 17 and the planting of the Thessalonian church in the midst of adversity and opposition. There is no doubt in Acts 17 about the hostility of the reaction as the Jews left in the synagogue react to the threat of the gospel by causing a riot and accusing the Christians of social unrest and sedition. There is no doubt that the gospel is the enemy of the world.


Then yesterday evening we were looking at 1 Peter 1 and gaining a feel for its setting. Fascinatingly as you read through the book you realise that the suffering they are undergoing is not physical but it is ostracism, social alienation and malicious accusations. And Peter writes to remind them of who they are, whose they are, and where they live - the are God's people strangers living in exile in a hostile world.


Both passages challenged us about how we thought of ourselves and the world around us. If we view this world as home we will live for its dreams, share its values and norms. But if we recognise this world for the hostile environment it is - not necessarily hostile physically towards us but certainly hostile to the intolerance of the gospel and - hostile to our being and living as God's holy, set apart, redeemed people then we will not share in its values, norms and desires.


Is the church, are we, am I too similar to the world because I have failed to grasp these fundamental truths?