Between Two Worlds

Noah Riner learned by experience that it can be dangerous to share the Good News outside of the circle of believers who already agree that the Good News is indeed good.

Noah Riner, like all Christians, lives between two worlds. As a Christian, his ultimate allegiance is to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As a student at Dartmouth College—a formerly Christian institution gone secular—Noah Riner is immersed in the kingdoms of this world.

Noah Riner learned by experience that when he chooses to stand up for the Kingdom of God in the midst of the kingdoms of this world, he can expect that his ideas will be attacked…and he can expect that he, personally, will be attacked.

The values, priorities, and expectations of the kingdoms of this world are completely at odds with the values, priorities, and expectations of the Kingdom of God. Conflict is inevitable. The more dramatically attention is drawn to the differences between the values, priorities, and expectations, the more dramatic the ensuing conflict…and the greater the miracle of the peace that passes understanding.

Saul, who later was renamed Paul, knew about this conflict from both sides of the fence.

Before coming to know Jesus, Saul was a driving force behind attacks on not only the ideas but also the lives of Christians.

After coming to know Jesus, Saul’s own life was soon at risk.

In Damascus, the newly converted Saul preached the Good News. Before long, someone was trying to kill him. His friends smuggled him out of the city to save his life.

In Jerusalem, Saul continued to share the Good News. He debated publicly with those whose viewpoint was different. Before long, someone was trying to kill him. Once again, fellow believers helped him get out of town before it was too late.

Saul knew by experience that it can be dangerous to share the Good News outside of the circle of believers who already agree that the Good News is indeed good.

Saul, like all Christians, lived between two worlds. As a Christian, his ultimate allegiance was to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Living in the Roman Empire of the first century, Saul was immersed in the kingdoms of this world.

Saul knew by experience that when he chose to stand up for the Kingdom of God in the midst of the kingdoms of this world, he could expect that his ideas would be attacked…and he could expect that he, personally, would be attacked.

The values, priorities, and expectations of the kingdoms of this world are completely at odds with the values, priorities, and expectations of the Kingdom of God. Conflict is inevitable. The more dramatically attention is drawn to the differences between the values, priorities, and expectations, the more dramatic the ensuing conflict…and the greater the miracle of the peace that passes understanding.

Not every Christian experiences this conflict in ways that are quite as public as the way that Saul or Noah Riner experienced it.

For some of us, the conflict shows up inside of our family.