The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery...

  - 1 Peter 4.3, 4

Let their hearts be pure and holy; in time of unbelief let them remain steadfast. Let them be faithful in their speech, and unstinting with their help.

  - The Rule of Ailbe, Irish, 7th century

It’s not that we can’t or shouldn’t have friends among unbelievers. Most of us have unbelievers in our Personal Mission Fields, so we can’t avoid them, and we shouldn’t merely shun them.

But neither should we live the way they do.

Everything about us – our outlook, demeanor, habits of work and dress, cultural interests, conversation, the way we relate to others – should declare that we live above the vulgarity and insipidity of the age, together with its immorality, whether overt or implied.

We are new creatures, people who hope in the glory of God (Rom. 5.1, 2) – to know that glory and then to make that glory known in everything we do. We are new creatures in Christ, indwelled by His Spirit. Everything about us should be refreshing and even surprising to those around us who do not know the Lord (2 Cor. 5.17-21; Jn. 7.37-39).

Sadly, what would be surprising in this age of unbelief is to find many Christians who live this way.

Every time some new poll or report comes out indicating that Christians aren’t all that different from everyone else, I groan and wonder who’s teaching these believers that they shouldn’t expect all things in their lives to be made new in Jesus.

It’s just too easy to fit in comfortably with our unbelieving age, to keep our faith under the radar, to go with the flow, and refuse to make waves (and any other clichés of conformity that come to mind).

And when ministers or newsletter writers suggest that our comfortable, materialistic, easy going and complacent way of living is, you know, out of step with the Gospel, the people of God get restive and resentful.

In a time of unbelief what the world needs is to see and experience people with true belief. Your Personal Mission Field is the place to begin bringing the light and joy of the risen and reigning Christ into the darkness and uncertainty of an unbelieving age.

Don’t just go along to get along. The time has long since passed for that.

Psalm 1.1, 3 (St. Thomas: “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”)
How blessed are they that shun sin’s vain and wicked ways.
For them has Christ salvation won; He loves them all their days.

Firm planted on the banks of God’s great stream of grace,
They raise unending praise and thanks to His great glorious face.

Help me, Lord, to be free of the constraints of an unbelieving age! Teach me to live in the glorious light of Your Truth.

Glory in the Ordinary
One of the booklets in A Field Guide to Mission is Christians on the Front Lines of the Culture Wars. This brief examination of 1 Corinthians 10.31-11.1 shows you how, in even the most ordinary, mundane ways, the light and life of King Jesus can refract through you to declare His glory to others. Since we’re all involved in culture every day of our lives, and in every situation, we’re either glorifying God with our culture or we’re just going with the flow – going along to get along. For your gift in any amount to The Fellowship of Ailbe we’ll send you A Field Guide to Mission which can help you get started or accelerate your work in your Personal Mission Field. We want the members of The Ailbe Community to embody those great truths of incarnate faith and witness that our Celtic forebears did, and this Field Guide can be your way into a whole new way of being a Christian. Use the donate button here or at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452. And, oh yeah, don’t forget to visit the website to watch the 8-minute video explaining the Ailbe Cross.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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