I've been following the Divergent series in print and in theaters since it has become a pop culture trend that captured the world's imagination, especially the youth's. The story line follows the life of a young woman named Tris Prior who is unlike any other. She is a "divergent"--a person who doesn't fit neatly into the society's strict imputation of roles and acceptable behaviors. She was unique. A non-conformist.
A glitch in creation.
As I was pondering about possible moral lessons that I can yank out from the movie (alright, it's a romanticist's tendency to romanticize things, you know) I was reminded about the fact that Christians are actually called to be like that--divergent. We are not called to conform, to fit in, and be "of the world".
We're a different breed in terms of values and lifestyles.
God clearly wants us to be separated from the world and walk in purity. Let us therefore purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God, for He who promised is faithful. The Christian walk has always been this way: a call to a life that is set apart from the world. That’s why the Scriptures instruct us to not conform to the world any longer. We’ve been set apart for a purpose.
1. The Path to a Separated Walk
A mark of a true Christian is the constant awareness of what pleases the Lord. He or she identifies with deep conviction the path which leads to destruction and the path which leads to God. This instruction in 2 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV) is obvious: “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.”
2. The Promise for a Life of Separated Walk
The call to a separated walk in Christ might be costly, but for those who are willing to pay the price, it is all worth it. There’s an assurance in 2 Corinthians 6:18 that if we continue in this walk, God himself declares that “I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.” Nothing is more rewarding that being given the privilege of having God call us his own children. It is a reward far greater than the price we pay for obeying Christ.
3. The Product of a Separated Walk
If there is any result of walking separately from the world, that would be our holiness. Getting rid of anything that dishonors this walk always lead to perfecting the life God intended for us. We are being made complete as we follow this road less travelled. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV), Paul reminds us that “since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
Be a divergent...
The challenge now then is to stand fast to this separated walk. Whether we’ve been Christian for the longest time or we’re just beginning, the call to a separate life in Christ is a daily summons. It is a daily act of obedience until we are made perfect in Christ, and through his grace, to be made in the likeness of him who called us.
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