How should Christians live as exiles in their own culture?
Exile is the right picture for the Christian life, and it is not a defeat. Peter addresses his readers as foreigners living in the Dispersion, and he tells them to do two things at once: abstain from the desires that war against the soul, and live so well among their neighbors that slander turns into glory to God. Jeremiah told the exiles in Babylon to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the city's peace, because their welfare was bound up with it. So Christians neither conquer the culture, nor flee it, nor melt into it. They bless it, stay distinct where God has spoken, expect hostility without surprise, and keep their hope fixed on the city that is coming.
This question arose from studying Why did God send His people into exile? and How does the old story reach Jesus?.
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Exile is the right picture, and it is not a defeat
Peter writes “to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion,” and calls them “foreigners and pilgrims.” Hebrews describes the faithful as people who “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” and Paul says flatly, “our citizenship is in heaven.” Jeremiah's letter to Babylon assumed a long stay, not a quick exit. Being a resident alien is normal Christianity, not a crisis, and it is the posture Scripture expects us to hold for as long as we are here.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Settle in and seek the city's good, because your peace is bound up with its peace
God did not tell the exiles to sabotage Babylon or to hide from it. He told them, “Build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat their fruit,” and then gave the command that shapes Christian civic life: “Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you shall have peace.” He added that His thoughts toward them were “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.” Daniel lived this out: he rose to govern the whole province of Babylon while his windows stayed open toward Jerusalem.
Build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat their fruit.Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you shall have peace.And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Be distinct where God has spoken, and stay in the room everywhere else
Daniel drew one clear line: “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties.” Yet he did not withdraw. He learned the language and literature, served in the administration, and God gave him “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom.” Jesus prays the same balance over His people: “I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.” Paul never asked the Corinthians to leave the world, only to stop being ruled by it. Exiles are not called to be strange where God has not spoken, but they must be unmistakable where He has.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortionists, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world.Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
Do good, submit where you can, and answer with hope rather than hostility
Peter's strategy is not protest but goodness: “having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God.” He says that “by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men,” and he compresses the ethic into four commands: “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” When hostility comes anyway, the response is neither fear nor counterattack: “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear.” He grants that suffering may come, and simply says “it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.”
having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Keep your eyes on the city that is coming
The exile posture only makes sense with a destination in view. Hebrews says the pilgrims were “seeking a country of their own,” and that “they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Jesus told His people they are “the light of the world,” and that “a city located on a hill can’t be hidden.” So live, Peter says, “in reverent fear” during “the time of your living as foreigners.” We are not home yet, and that is precisely why we can love this place deeply without needing it to be heaven.
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
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What does it mean that the world hates Jesus?→Jesus Christ trail“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”How do I share my faith with others?→Our Walk with Him trail“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”Why do I need the church?→The Church trail“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you shall have peace.And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
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