This
article is an unashamed adaptation of one by Ed Harrell, from
the October '79 VANGUARD; and you should read the original for
full benefit.
Shall
Christians strive to control the world, or withdraw from it?
Jesus prayed, "...not that thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil"
(Jn. 17:14-18). The Christian is not of this world, but we have
a work to do here — the redemption of honest and good souls,
by leading them to Christ. Other than concern for those who will
be saved, the N. T. shows an almost total disregard for the
society of its day.
Jesus
never envisioned that society would become just — in fact, he
clearly stated that most people would reject the path of
righteousness. Our escape from evil will come only with our
escape from this wicked world. We therefore have an
"other-worldly" religion, which must not be replaced
by "this-worldly" ethics or goals. Our citizenship is
in heaven (Phil. 3:20); and physical sufferings or death are of
little consequence when compared with eternal matters. A change
of emphasis from the spiritual to the work
