by Marti Fischer
John wrote a poem some years ago that seems even more relevant today than when he first wrote it.
It is about three Christians—and a few very important prepositions.
The In’s and Out’s of It
by John Fischer
“In it, not of it,” the statement was made
As Christian One faced the world, much afraid.
“In it, not of it,” the call was made clear,
But Christian One got something stuck in his ear.
“Not in it, or of it” was the thing that he heard.
And knowing the world was painfully absurd,
He welcomed the safety of pious retreat,
And went to the potluck for something to eat.
Now Christian Two, he knew what to do,
He’d show those fundies a thing or two!
How will the world ever give Christ a try
If we don’t get in there and identify?
So “In it, and of it,” he said in his car,
As he pulled in and stopped at a popular bar.
“I’ll tell them the truth, as soon as I’m able
To get myself out from under this table.”
Now along comes Christian Three jogging for Jesus,
In witnessing sweats made of four matching pieces.
His earphones are playing a hot Christian tune
About how the Lord is coming back soon.
“Not in it, but of it,” he turns down the hill
And stops in for a bite at the Agape Grill.
Like the gold on the chain of his “God Loves You” bracelet,
He can have the world without having to face it.
While way up in heaven they lament these conditions
That come from changing a few prepositions.
“Not in it, or of it,” Christian One thought.
But who in the world will know that he’s not?
“In it, and of it,” thought Christian Two.
But who in the world will know that he knew?
“Not in it, but of it,” thought Christian Three.
But who in the world watches Christian TV?
And Jesus turns to Gabriel, shaking His head.
“‘In it, not of it,’ wasn’t that what I said?”
John was having fun with us.
But underneath the humor is a question that may be more urgent today than ever:
Have we gotten the prepositions wrong?
Jesus prayed for His followers:
“I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
— John 17:15–18, NLT
There it is.
Not taken out of the world.
Not belonging to the world.
Sent into the world.
Jesus never intended for us to retreat from culture. Nor did He intend for us to disappear into it.
And He certainly didn’t send us into the world merely to create a Christian version of everything the world already has.
He sent us into it to be different.
When Culture Gets Into Us
Culture is enormously powerful. Perhaps pop culture most of all.
It tells us what is important, what is desirable, what success looks like, who matters, who doesn’t, what we should fear, what we should possess, and what gives a person significance.
None of us is immune.
The question isn’t whether culture influences us.
The question is whether Christ influences us more.
Would that our faith were shaping culture. Too often, it’s the other way around.
The world’s fascination with wealth can become our fascination with wealth.
Its pursuit of power can become our pursuit of power.
Its obsession with celebrity can become Christian celebrity.
Its definition of success can quietly become our definition of ministry success.
Its need to win can become our need to win.
We can attach Christian words to cultural values and convince ourselves that we have transformed them.
We haven’t.
We’ve simply changed the label.
Christian Three in John’s poem may therefore be the most popular of the three.
This person is “not in it, but of it.”
He has created a Christian alternative to the world around him—his own music, restaurant, clothing, and entertainment.
As John puts it:
“He can have the world without having to face it.”
That is the difference between a subculture and a counterculture.
Jesus Was Countercultural
Jesus didn’t fit in.
He didn’t fit comfortably with the religious establishment. He didn’t fit with the political powers. He didn’t fit the expectations of His own followers.
He wasn’t impressed by wealth.
He wasn’t intimidated by power.
He wasn’t seduced by popularity.
He touched people respectable society wouldn’t touch. He ate with people religious society wouldn’t eat with. He challenged those who believed themselves righteous and welcomed those who knew they weren’t.
Jesus shook things up.
And then He said:
“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
That’s us.
We are not called to create a safe Christian world.
We are not called to become so much like the culture that no one can tell the difference.
We are sent into the very middle of it carrying the values of another kingdom.
Where culture says accumulate, Jesus says give.
Where culture says climb, Jesus says serve.
Where culture says protect yourself, Jesus says lose yourself.
Where culture says love those who love you, Jesus says love your enemies.
Where culture says greatness puts you above others, Jesus gets down on His knees with a towel.
That’s countercultural.
The Question Isn’t “How Far Away?”
Maybe we have been measuring holiness incorrectly.
The test of being “not of the world” isn’t how far away from the world we can get.
It is how recognizably like Jesus we remain while standing right in the middle of it.
Jesus prayed,
“I’m not asking you to take them out of the world.”
Then He said,
“I am sending them into the world.”
So we cannot hide.
And because we don’t belong to the world, we cannot simply blend in.
We go into culture carrying something culture cannot give itself.
Grace.
Truth.
Mercy.
Sacrifice.
Love.
And Jesus.
Maybe John was onto something.
A few little prepositions can change everything.
Not out of it.
Not of it.
Sent into it.
Or, as Jesus might remind us:
“In it, not of it.”
Time to get the prepositions right.
