What does the biblical phrase "Be in the world, but not of the world" mean?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that the phrase "in the world but not of the world" is a call to courageous, consecrated engagement. It is the perfect balance between isolation and assimilation. You are called to be Jesus’ hands and feet, serving, loving, and ministering to people where they are (Question 108). This means you must be in the world.
However, you are a citizen of heaven (Question 93), and your ultimate allegiance belongs to God (Question 97). This means you are not of the world. Your values, moral compass, and hope must be fundamentally different from the world around you. Your life should be an act of spiritual light (Question 109) that shines on the darkness, not a copy of it.
The Simple Answer
This principle is drawn directly from the words of Jesus in His High Priestly Prayer for His disciples:
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” — John 17:14-15 (NIV)
The phrase means two things:
Be IN the World (Engagement): You must live a normal life—work, study, raise a family, engage in culture, and be present among non-believers. God wants you to be a witness where you are (Question 103).
Be NOT OF the World (Separation): You must reject the sinful value system and ungodly spirit that dominates the world. This includes rejecting pride, materialism, lust, greed, selfishness, and anything that stands against the truth of God's Word (Question 80).
The Deeper Dive: Principles and Practice
The concept of being "in but not of" is the biblical call to sanctification—the process of being made holy.
1. What it means to be IN the world (The Salt)
Jesus called His followers the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). Salt must be applied to the food to preserve and flavor it; it cannot stay in the shaker. Being "in the world" means:
Loving Your Neighbor: Actively serving and building relationships with people who do not know Christ (Question 108).
Doing Good Work: Carrying out your job, studies, and civic duties with excellence, integrity, and diligence, demonstrating Christian character (Question 64).
2. What it means to be NOT OF the world (The Light)
Jesus also called His followers the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). Light exposes darkness but does not absorb it. Being "not of the world" means:
Moral Distinctiveness: Refusing to compromise your moral standards or participate in the sins that the world celebrates (Romans 12:2).
Kingdom Priority: Your primary loyalty, hope, and vision for the future are centered on the Kingdom of God, not on worldly achievements, politics, or wealth (Question 109).
3. Avoiding Extremes
This principle warns against two extremes:
Asceticism/Isolation: Fleeing the world entirely (e.g., retreating to a monastery or refusing all engagement). This fails to be the "salt."
Assimilation: Blending in completely, adopting the world's morality, and losing your distinctiveness. This fails to be the "light."
The Christian walk is to navigate this tension: engaging with the culture while maintaining a heavenly identity.
God's Assurance
God assures you that He is always with you in the world, empowering you to live a distinct life that shines brightly for Him.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2 (NIV)
You are assured that the Holy Spirit provides the power to be separate from sin while remaining loving toward sinners (Question 66).
Your Takeaway Thought
Ask yourself daily: "Is my life reflecting the culture of earth, or the culture of heaven?" Your clothes, your entertainment, and your ambitions may be "in the world," but your heart, your speech, and your purity must be "not of the world." Let your distinctness draw others to the Savior you serve.
