What's Happening?

In December of 2002, the Convention Authority of Las Vegas, Nevada, launched an advertising campaign in which each of the television commercials ends with the displayed statement, “What Happens Here Stays Here.” One of the adds plays scene after scene of a guy who has told a number of gals each a different line of work he was in. Here was a place where he could try to come across as being anything he wanted to be because people didn’t know him and he would soon be leaving anyway. He was there to have a good time before returning to his REAL WORLD.

There can be many serious effects of taking such a slogan too seriously. “What Happens Here Stays Here” seems to be an open invitation for people to do things in Las Vegas they would never think of doing at home. I’m sure Las Vegas law enforcement gets weary of having to constantly deal with people who after consuming too much alcohol exercise too little judgment in what they end up doing during their short stay. Couldn’t we say it’s an invitation for some to live a lie?

What would be the impact for such to be a motto for the church? “What Happens Here Stays Here.” Have some already adopted it? Have we? Is it all a put on when we assemble with the church? Or if it is real, are we guilty of leaving it there? Does the spiritual thinking, speaking, and activity that goes on in our assemblies merely happen there and stay there? Or is it truly what and who we are so that when we are living life in the REAL WORLD we can have the kind of influence God desires? We are only in our assemblies for a short while each week. What we do there is important to consider, making sure it is not merely pleasing to us, but rather to God. (note Amos 5:21-24) However, we must also focus on the consistency between what goes on there and how we live the rest of the time in the REAL WORLD.

Jesus knew how challenged His disciples would be in the REAL WORLD. He had a concern for them. However, they had a mission to fulfill and they could not do it in isolation.

Note how Jesus prayed for them.
“(14) I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I DO NOT ASK THAT YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD, BUT THAT YOU KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” ( John 17:14-16 ESV)

Jesus did not pray for their removal from the world, but for their protection as they lived and labored in it. They were not of the world, but needed to be in it in order to be the light and salt we have each been called to be. ( Matthew 5:13-16) Monasticism is not taught in the Scriptures. We may like the world (the atmosphere) we enjoy in our assemblies, but we cannot wall ourselves in and still fulfill God’s purpose of reaching a lost and dying world. What goes on in our assemblies (our focus on righteousness and truth, the essence of holiness, a heart connection with God, etc.) must go with us as we live our daily lives in the REAL WORLD. May we be mindful of taking our Christianity (our connection to Christ as His disciples) with us, living it wherever we go. The REAL WORLD needs to see how God’s Way really does work.

Have a great day EXEMPLIFYING THE POWER OF CONSISTENT GODLY LIVING!
Carl

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