John 17:15 (HCSB)
In John 17 Jesus is praying for His disciples then and those in the future (us). He is very clear. He says, "I am not praying that you take them out of the world." And yet the Christian community over the years has tried to find ways to get out of the world. We have tried to legislate. We publish advertising so that we know which businesses are "Christian." We have established "Christian Schools." All of this seems to contradict what Jesus said He was praying for, that we would not be out of the world.
Instead Jesus said He was praying, "that You protect them from the evil one." Jesus plan is not to take us out but to protect us while we are in. In order for us to be effective as light and salt we must be in regular contact with the world. If we isolate ourselves from the world we will never be able to do our job as Christ followers and bring others into the Kingdom.
Jesus does not want you compromised or destroyed by the evil one in the world but He does want you to be a visible light and a purifying salt in the world. Stay in and know you are protected.
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