Two Extremes Living in Babylon

How should Christians live faithfully amidst a world that feels foreign and challenging? Jeffrey D. Johnson explores the two extremes that often characterize Christian living in history—complete withdrawal from society and total immersion without distinction. He references groups like the radical Anabaptists who sought to separate entirely, forsaking political involvement and societal obligations. While acknowledging the world's impermanence, Johnson reminds us that God has not called us to isolation but to be active participants in the world, reflecting Christ's light and love. Johnson emphasizes that Christians are to live as salt and light in this world. While we may not belong to the world, our purpose is to engage with it, building lives, working in our professions, and sharing the gospel as a testament to God's grace. This balanced approach mirrors the teachings found in the book of Jeremiah, where believers are depicted as pilgrims in exile, living under the rule of King Jesus to influence the world positively without conforming to its patterns. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV): "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."