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Perhaps we could call it a sanctified form of paranoia. In his Introduction to the Science of Missions, J. H. Bavinck calls attention to Israel's striking awareness of being watched by the nations around them. If Israel perishes at Sinai, flamed by Yahweh's wrath, the nations will blaspheme (Ex 32:12); if Yahweh cannot get Israel to the land of promise, the nations will know and gloat (Nu 14:16); Hezekiah wants Yahweh to deliver Jerusalem from the armies of Sennacherib so that all kingdoms will know Yahweh (Is 37:20).
This is no less emphatic in the NT. Bavinck notes the frequent occurance of the phrase "those without," and Paul's obsessive concern with the reputation of Christians among "those without." Walk honestly toward "those without" (1 Thess 4:12); follow the good toward "all men" (1 Thess 5:15); walk in wisdom toward "those without" (Col 4:5); elders in particular are to have a good reputation with "those without" (1 Tim 3:7). Whether we want to or no, the church "must always live before the eye of the world." This can be uncomfortable; any child will shrink from being the center of attention (well, almost any). But this is the glory of the church, and a central aspect of the church's mission. Thinking that we are the apple of God's eye and the center of history is NOT hubris; problems arise, on the contrary, when the church no longer believes that we're being watched.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Monday, July 12, 2004 at 07:26 PM
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