Counterinfluence
By Greg Laurie
“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
—John 17:18
As we go out to invade our culture with the good news of Jesus Christ, we must recognize that we are behind enemy lines. We’re in a hostile environment. For the most part, people are not always supportive of or receptive to what we have to say.
Without question this is a tricky balance. But here are the words of Jesus in a prayer that only He could pray to the Father. Referring to us, His followers, Jesus said, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. . . . Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world” (John 17:15, 18 NLT).
Did you catch that? Jesus said that He’s sending us into the world. Yet the Bible warns us that we shouldn’t be conformed to this world.
