Sermon: "In the world, but not of it"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

In the midst of my last-minute preparations for this sermon, the Rt. Rev. Robert Tharp died. I have not known Bishop Tharp nearly as long as some of you. However, for the past four and a half years, he has served as mentor, friend, and colleague to me. He will indeed be missed by many of us – but we thank God for Bob Tharp’s life and ministry among us.

Given that event of last Friday, the subjects of our readings – and this particular time in the church year – seem especially appropriate. Indeed, they are rather amazingly so. On Thursday of this week, we celebrated the feast of the Ascension. It is important to realize that the Ascension is different from the Resurrection. Indeed, the Resurrection on Easter Day affirms Jesus’ victory over death. As we often sing on Easter morning, “Death is conquered; we are free; Christ has won the victory”(Hymnal #180). For forty days after the resurrection, Christ appeared on various occasions. Thus, disciples had the opportunity to witness the resurrected Christ and to see first hand that central reality of our faith. And thus also, ever since then, we proclaim the resurrection faith with great joy – then and now, in life and in death – “Alleluia! Christ is risen!”

After the forty days of resurrection appearances, though, the time came for Christ to ascend to his Father in heaven. Just prior to Christ’s ascension, he had in his mind, on his heart, and in his prayers those followers of his … followers that he was about to leave. And this was the occasion of the wonderful prayer in the seventeenth chapter of John’s Gospel – part of which we read this morning.

Jesus prayed for his disciples – in the words of one Bible version – “Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one…They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world…As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world”(Jn 17:11b, 16, 18). Then, in the very next verse following our reading, Jesus continued, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word”(vs20).

Therefore, you see, the call for us – who are inheritors of the mantle of Christ’s disciples – is to live in the world, yet not be of the world. Christ says that has been his own calling. He indicates a similar calling for his first disciples … and he extends that calling to those who will come later – to live in the world, yet not be of the world.

It seems to me that we may understand this concept from our own experiences – the concept of being in the world but not of it. For instance, in several weeks, Annie and I will be blessed to return to the Niobrara Convocation in South Dakota. Last year was our first experience of this annual homecoming of the Sioux Indian tribes, disbursed in South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. The Sioux people come together annually, to celebrate their heritage and their lives, as they remember the examples of their ancestors. And they are gracious in welcoming us into their midst. Indeed, Annie and I have looked forward to this return trip ever since last year.

We certainly will be welcomed there. However, while we will be in the gathering at Niobrara, at many levels, we cannot be of it. There are obvious ways in which we simply cannot be a part of this homecoming of Sioux people. We will, therefore, have a certain objectivity, a kind of set-apartness, simply because of the heritage that is not ours. Thus, we will be in that world but not of it.

However, in more familiar settings – in our own cultures, for instance – this call of Christ may be more difficult to follow. For instance, as part of our definition in this world, we are Americans, citizens of the United States. Christ calls us to be in the world but not of the world. What does that mean for us, who are blessed to be Americans? Also, we are Episcopalians, a particular brand of Christians. How does Christ’s call apply to our own practice of faith? Can we be objective and prophetic about these communities in which we find ourselves – as Americans and as Episcopalians, for instance? Or, are we so enmeshed, so much a part of these worlds, that we cannot maintain the distinctiveness to which Christ calls us?

My friends, Jesus Christ prays for the disciples he will leave behind at the time of his ascension. Further, he prays for us, for we are included, too. “Holy Father, keep them in thy name … They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world…As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

You see, our call involves claiming the perspective of the kingdom of heaven. That is the world in and of which we live, move, and have our being – in an ultimate sense. The kingdom of heaven includes our world – but in its completed and perfected reality. The kingdom of heaven includes the United States and the Episcopal Church – but in more completed and perfected forms than we now know. In heaven, Christ is king, and God is acknowledged as creator in the kingdom of heaven. From our perspective as citizens of God’s kingdom, we are able to look at the world now with new eyes – eyes and a perspective in the world but not of it. We are able to be objective and prophetic about this world in which we live now, for we know that the rightful claim on our ultimate citizenship lies with another kingdom.

In conclusion, Jesus – even as he was about to ascend to the kingdom of heaven – prayed for those he was leaving behind. He prayed for them – and for us – a perspective on this world, taken from that place where our ultimate allegiance lies – the kingdom of heaven. “Holy Father, keep them in thy name … They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world … As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” May we therefore follow this call of Christ, as we live in this world … but – along with Bob Tharp and all those who have walked this way before us – may we maintain a heavenly perspective of our world. Amen.

Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee