This fall our lifegroup bible study was rooted in Jer 29:4-14 which contains the instructions God gave to the Israelites for how they should live while they were exiled in Babylon. They should “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
As Christians we are in a similar situation as the exiled Israelites, living in a fallen world and pagan culture and knowing this is not our ultimate destination. 1 Pet describes us as “aliens and strangers in the world.” One of the ongoing struggles of the Christian faith is how to live in this place which we know is not our home, but continue to build houses, marry, work, and do all the things that would indicate that we intend to live here for the long haul. How do we love our city, seek its welfare and pray to the Lord on its behalf, yet not place our hope in it?
Matt and I have been trying to flesh this out together for almost ten years. I’m not sure we have any more clarity on it now than we ever have. In fact, we feel more and more like this is the never ending work of the Christian life, and there are no clear paths. One specific decision recently has been how we want to proceed with our children’s education. We desire to continue to be the primary influence in their lives and be their primary educators, so we consider homeschooling. However, we also strongly desire for our family to continue to be involved in our neighborhood and community through the local public school.
Choices like this make me crave the rules and laws the Israelites had; laws that could tell me how to live among my neighbors. But the gospel provides no rules or regulations. There are no shortcuts or sure-fire ways to raise children who love God and the community while not giving them over to the pagan culture. These kinds of choices humble me and remind me that I have no idea what I’m doing!
For now we muddle along. We will keep making our home here and seeking the welfare of our city. We will also continue to impress upon our children that this is not our true home and that our hope lies in Christ alone. As far as education, we will see where we end up. Either way, we will continue to entrust our children and our neighbors to God, their perfect Father, who knows them and cares for them far more than we do.
As Christians we are in a similar situation as the exiled Israelites, living in a fallen world and pagan culture and knowing this is not our ultimate destination. 1 Pet describes us as “aliens and strangers in the world.” One of the ongoing struggles of the Christian faith is how to live in this place which we know is not our home, but continue to build houses, marry, work, and do all the things that would indicate that we intend to live here for the long haul. How do we love our city, seek its welfare and pray to the Lord on its behalf, yet not place our hope in it?
Matt and I have been trying to flesh this out together for almost ten years. I’m not sure we have any more clarity on it now than we ever have. In fact, we feel more and more like this is the never ending work of the Christian life, and there are no clear paths. One specific decision recently has been how we want to proceed with our children’s education. We desire to continue to be the primary influence in their lives and be their primary educators, so we consider homeschooling. However, we also strongly desire for our family to continue to be involved in our neighborhood and community through the local public school.
Choices like this make me crave the rules and laws the Israelites had; laws that could tell me how to live among my neighbors. But the gospel provides no rules or regulations. There are no shortcuts or sure-fire ways to raise children who love God and the community while not giving them over to the pagan culture. These kinds of choices humble me and remind me that I have no idea what I’m doing!
For now we muddle along. We will keep making our home here and seeking the welfare of our city. We will also continue to impress upon our children that this is not our true home and that our hope lies in Christ alone. As far as education, we will see where we end up. Either way, we will continue to entrust our children and our neighbors to God, their perfect Father, who knows them and cares for them far more than we do.
