In the world, but not of the world

Monday February 7, 2022

In the world, but not of the world

Our city is in heaven, from where we also expect as Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humiliation, making it like the body of his glory, by the power he has of s subjugate all things. Philippians 3:20,21

In 1436, a manuscript was found, probably written between the years 190 and 200 of the Christian era. We know the addressee, Diognetus, but not the author. This text describes the behavior of Christians of the time who realized that their city was really in heaven. Here are excerpts :

“Christians reside each in his own homeland, but as strangers. They perform all their duties as citizens and bear all burdens as strangers. All land is a homeland to them and all homeland is a foreign land to them. They marry like everyone else, they have children, but they do not abandon their newborns [like the pagans]. They share the same table, but not the same layer. They spend their lives on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the established laws, but their way of life prevails in perfection over the laws.

They love all men and persecute them all. We misunderstand them, we condemn them, we kill them and, thereby, they gain life. They are poor and enrich many. They lack everything and overabound in everything. They are despised and, in this contempt, they find their glory. They are slandered and they are justified. We insult them and they bless. They are outraged and they honor. They only do good and yet they are punished like villains. Chastened, they remain in joy as if they were born to life. The Jews make war on them as on foreigners ; they are persecuted by the Greeks and those who hate them cannot say the cause of their hatred.

Immortal, the soul dwells in a mortal tent ; thus Christians encamp in the corruptible, awaiting the heavenly incorruptible. The soul becomes better by strengthening itself in adversity. Persecuted, Christians, day by day, multiply more and more. So noble is the office God has assigned them that they are not permitted to desert."

Let us imitate the faith of those Christians of whom the world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:38).

Source (Please the Lord)