I was apart of a group of friends that were celebrating a birthday party in March. The Birthday girl reached out to all of us saying she wanted to spend the day skiing and snowboarding down the mountains of Tahoe in costumes. I also love their weekend getaways because it allows the people who are on the trip to catch up with one another and have deep, meaningful conversations. During the week, it is hard to catch up with everyone due to everyone and my own busy schedule, but these trips give everyone moments to really get to one another.
We had an absolute blast of a time spending the day skiing and snowboarding down the mountain wearing our silly costumes. The interactions that stuck out the most to me were the comments made by the other people at the resort.
“Why are you guys wearing costumes for?”
“Sweet costume! What’s the occasion?”
“That looks so uncomfortable, why are you wearing it”
These were some of the questions and comments I heard. These called forth Romans 12:2 reminding Christians that physically present in the world but set apart to live their lives for God.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
Being “in” the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values. To be set apart by living a holy, righteous life not to engage in everything that the world promotes. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the sharing the gospel and making disciplines of all nations. We must also understand that being in the world, but not of it, is necessary if we are to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness.
“Your life as a Christian should make non believers question their disbelief in God.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Wearing different costumes showed our individuality and it made people question the costume; the costumes also showed unity toward a common purpose. Christians are called to live out their individual lives and walk with God supported by the interdependent community of.
Max Murphy 