In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean?

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Kitkat
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In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean?

Post by Kitkat »

So I have been pondering on the phrase, we are to be in the world, but not of the world. Any thoughts on what this means? Literally all of us mortals are in the world. So how are we to not be of the world? This is something people often quote to me to show me that I am "sheltering" my children too much, often using it to explain to me that I need to let my children be "in the world" more. I am sincerely curious what others think this phrase means for us as Latter Day Saints.

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Original_Intent
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by Original_Intent »

Well, I am pretty sure it doesn't mean what those who are advising you think it means.

Robert Sinclair
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by Robert Sinclair »

The world is things carnal and sensual and devilish.

Those who delight in these things to the pleasure of Satan and themselves become worldly and manifest selfishness.

The things of God are celestial in being, of purity of heart, and charitableness, and all the things in the service of others, being Christ like, instead loving God, and others, equal to yourself, as one.

If you live in this selfish world, but are the opposite and giving and serving, and Christ like, you are not of the worldly nature of such. Therefore in but not of.♡

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survivaldealer
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by survivaldealer »

A person of the world would be a liberal, uninformed sloth, that heeds every sexual urge, feels that society owes him/her free medical care, believes homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, despises the 2nd amendment (in spite of having never read it), believes Obama is a good person, thinks Muslims are great but hates Christians, thinks the government looks out for our best interest, and cares more about what Miley Cyrus did than Abe Lincoln.

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marc
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by marc »

Worldly. Mammon. Materialism. Babylon.

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wildernessdaughter
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by wildernessdaughter »

I think "in the world" means we have to live in society. We can't exactly lock ourselves up in our homes and never go to work or to the grocery store or interact with those who don't share our beliefs or whose standards we disagree with.

"Not of the world" means we keep our priorities straight. We worship God above all else. We don't become enticed by world riches or the wisdom of man. We don't participate in, consume or condone the smut those things that are contrary to God's commandments or that are offensive to Him.

Prior to 586 BC, the ancient Israelites lived in Jerusalem, sheltered and isolated from the rest of the world. Separating themselves from the philosophies and practices of the world was no problem (that's not to say they didn't have problems). When they were invaded and carried away to Babylon, they all of a sudden had to learn how to exist in a world in which they were different, where others didn't share -- and even mocked -- their values and beliefs. This is the situation we are living today. It is a challenge. We are bombarded at every turn by messages that are contrary to what we know is true and circumstances that have the capability to drive away the Spirit. We are surrounded by it, but must choose to not take part in it. Our hearts must be pure enough that even in these situations, the Spirit can remain with us.

We MUST protect our children and our homes must be havens.I don't care if others think my children are naive. I will teach them what they need to know. I will warn them of the dangers in the world. I want them to be educated and aware, but that doesn't mean they need to be exposed to the world first hand.

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Original_Intent
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

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We are here, but we know we are just tourists.

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Melissa
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by Melissa »

wildernessdaughter wrote:I think "in the world" means we have to live in society. We can't exactly lock ourselves up in our homes and never go to work or to the grocery store or interact with those who don't share our beliefs or whose standards we disagree with.

"Not of the world" means we keep our priorities straight. We worship God above all else. We don't become enticed by world riches or the wisdom of man. We don't participate in, consume or condone the smut those things that are contrary to God's commandments or that are offensive to Him.
Thank you, this is what my answer is too.
I have pondered this statement again recently and this is what I now understand it to mean. We HAVE to participate in the world and be functioning people, working, school, kids activities, shopping, etc. All of which are growing more and more worrysome and hostile to a moral persons comfort zone.

One of the trials we have is having all sorts of filth and problems around us in every job, class, activity that we participate in BUT being instructed to stand our ground and not allow the world to influence our very souls. Not adapt the world philosophy but stay true to God and our covenants. This alone is a near impossible feat, infact sometimes I wonder if it is like the saying, "be ye therefore perfect". We will not be perfect here, that comes later. And I would like to meet anyone who has not adapted a world philosophy as basic truth. Not sure its possible but it is a command and a trial indeed!

Also, look at the tactics used in ALL information that is mainstream.....we have to get our news (at least once in a while) so we have few choices and must be bombarded and weed through garbage and lies to just be informed.

There are many more examples but its not needed, we all love here and know what its like to live in this upsidedown world.

karend77
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by karend77 »

Melissa wrote:
wildernessdaughter wrote:I think "in the world" means we have to live in society. We can't exactly lock ourselves up in our homes and never go to work or to the grocery store or interact with those who don't share our beliefs or whose standards we disagree with.

"Not of the world" means we keep our priorities straight. We worship God above all else. We don't become enticed by world riches or the wisdom of man. We don't participate in, consume or condone the smut those things that are contrary to God's commandments or that are offensive to Him.
Elder Nelson gave a wonderful commencement address yesterday at BYU. Here are some excerpts:

“Wherever we go, you and I as disciples of the Lord bear a solemn responsibility to proclaim the will of God to all people,” he said. “And one of the more demanding opportunities of our time is to stand up for the truth regarding the sacred nature of marriage.”

Gone are the days of being a quiet and comfortable Christian, Elder Nelson told the graduates.......
“Your religion is not just about showing up for church on Sunday,” he said. “It is about showing up as a true disciple from Sunday morning through Saturday night — 24/7. There is no such thing as a ‘part-time’ disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

A strong character is necessary for discipleship, for disciples will be put to the test, he said...............
“We cannot yield," he said. "History is not our judge. A secular society is not our judge. God is our judge! For each of us, judgment day will be held in God’s own way and time. … Man simply cannot make moral what God has declared to be immoral. Sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God.”....................


http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8656 ... .html?pg=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At all the events the past two days, all the speakers including the graduate ones, spoke of going forth and serving, of having courage. This is an interesting generation of young adults. I see the sifting even among them......those that stand out as shining examples and those that choose the worldy path...I am not seeing many fence sitters anymore.

Kitkat
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by Kitkat »

Great insights! I am part of the generation of children raised right when the internet made its debut. It has been such an onslaught of information, good and bad, true and false, uplifting and degrading. I feel my generation was failed in many ways by well meaning parents who were not aware what a danger this new information access would cause.

This has troubled me greatly. Why we're not more parents aware of the plague of immorality about to take the youth by storm. Is this something the prophets and apostle warned us about?

Trying navigate the waters as a parent myself now, I really want to know how to avoid pitfalls like pornography for my children.

I am troubled because I worry that what we are doing as parents is not working.

Recently our stake president shared with us that 70 percent of the active men in the stake have struggled with pornography. These are not, in my opinion " bad" men. These are mostly good men who have been caught in a snare, often times at very young ages.

Why did parents/leaders not warn us? Maybe I don't remember because I was young.

My fear is that the children will continue to suffer because we as parents are too much of the world. I am not saying that the parents are directly responsible, but we are the guardians of our children. I suppose that is why we must strive to get the spirit.

Our culture is so antagonistic of feeling the spirit, how do we sift through our own cultural expectations and find our standing before god?

Robert Sinclair
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by Robert Sinclair »

To know your standing before God it is well to have searched the Scriptures diligently to know all the things he had said to do, and how to be like and to know all the things he has said to know.

Then as people revile against you and you don't revile back you will know you keep this one commandment.

When people steal from you, you just let it go and then you know that you have kept that commandment.

And each and every single commandment that you keep causes your confidence to wax stronger and stronger before him.

When you get to where you know that you are keeping his commandments loving every single child of God to the very best of your ability and find yourself willing to suffer even death in the most aggravating and distressing manner that could be inflicted upon you but all you do is show forgiveness and loving kindness in return you will know that his countenance shall smile upon you.

But if you steal and commit adultery or fornication, if you know you revile against those who revile against you, that you return evil for evil when he has said not to do these things; your confidence shall not begin to wax strong as you will know that you do not do those things he has said to do or be like, and know that he knows.

Do a book report on all the things he said to do and how to be like and what you should know, meditate upon them day and night until they are written upon the table of your heart, and seek to see eye to eye with him in all these things. :)

bostonbarney
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean

Post by bostonbarney »

survivaldealer wrote:A person of the world would be a liberal, uninformed sloth, that heeds every sexual urge, feels that society owes him/her free medical care, believes homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, despises the 2nd amendment (in spite of having never read it), believes Obama is a good person, thinks Muslims are great but hates Christians, thinks the government looks out for our best interest, and cares more about what Miley Cyrus did than Abe Lincoln.
Surely you jest.

deep water
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean?

Post by deep water »

In order to understand the meaning you cannot wrest the phrase. At the very least you would have to add "a strange and peculiar people". If an African from the bush was brought to down town America, he would look around and say, I am in the world, but not of it. These are a strange and peculiar people. Yes I do believe that a Zion community would look just as out of place in downtown America as that African bush person would look. And the world around them and its beliefs and creeds would be just as strange to them.
When you search the scriptures for the descriptions of life in the Millennium, you would see a snapshot of "in the world but not of it, a strange and peculiar people".

Hivetyrant36
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean?

Post by Hivetyrant36 »

In the world means you have a house and you live on planet Earth along with all the other humans. Not of the world means you don't subscribe to foolish and false teachings and trends set by men and don't participate in sensationalism. Your core values are of an eternal nature, not a temporal one, and you honestly see your provisions as having come from God, not your own hands. There are way too many LDS people living with the world, not apart from it, with temporal mind sets.

Finrock
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Re: In the world, but not of the world...what does this mean?

Post by Finrock »

To me this means we have come to the recognition that we are in fact Gods and not animals. We are sojourners on this earth life and this earth life is not our home nor is it our destination. The earth life has many things that are appealing and attractive to our bodies, which are animals. I firmly believe our flesh and blood body is in fact an animal, but this animal houses a Spirit, which can be made Holy. Thus, we are Holy Spirits housed in flesh. Once we recognize our true identity as Holy Spirits, we can keep our eyes single to the glory of God and the Gods, which is our true and eternal identity. It's like living in North Korea all of your life and then finally recognizing that you are actually an American citizen and privy to all the rights and privileges that comes with being an American. We might be in North Korea, but we are not of North Korea. I know its a weak analogy, but hopefully it works.

-Finrock

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