Be in the world, not of it.
There is no quote by Jesus just like that in the New Testament, but there are a few similar ones.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
– 1 John 2:15
When I appear to love the world, I really “love” some of my thoughts. I think that I need something in the world (money, house, status etc.), take the thought as true, and live as if it’s true. The world if filtered through these beliefs, and it temporarily covers up awareness of what’s already here – all as Spirit, all as love. Said another way, the love for Spirit (the father) is not here, or at least it appears to not be here.
Be in the world, not of it.
– unknown author
What do I find when I look at this way of putting it?
Some examples of how I am in the world: As this human self, I am in the world. To others, I am in the world. I am in the world because this human self lives and functions in the world. I am also in the world because I use thoughts and images as practical guides for my life.
And some ways I am not of the world: I am not of the world when what I am – awareness, capacity – notices itself. I am not of the world, when I notice that the world – my world of experiences and images – happens within and as what I am. I find myself as not of the world when I question my beliefs, including the most basic ones of me and I.
So the statement is an invitation to notice the ways I am in the world, as this human self, and also to take care of that life, to live it the best way I can. And it’s an invitation to notice the ways I am not of the world, to familiarize myself with what I am, to inquire into the thoughts that prevent me from seeing it.
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draft….
Some examples of how I am in the world: I am in the world because this human self lives and functions in the world. To others, I am in the world. I am also in the world because I use thoughts and images as practical guides for my life. As this human self, I am in the world.
And some ways I am not of the world: I am not of the world when what I am – awareness, capacity – notices itself. I am not of the world when whatever thoughts are here – including of me and I – as thoughts and images. I am not of the world, when I notice that the world – my world, my experiences and images – happens within and as what I am. I find myself as not of the world when I question my beliefs, including the most basic ones of me and I.