Old Order Amish are known for their rigorous commitment to being dissociated from the modern world. In their dress they prohibit the use of buttons or zippers, and clothing color must be dark or, even better, black. Men’s hair length is regulated and they’re required to grow a beard, whereas women are prohibited from cutting their hair. And they have virtually no modern conveniences. No cars, electricity or even tractors.
You have to respect their resolve to deny themselves society’s conveniences. However, as well-intended as it may be, God’s Word teaches that we were brought forth in iniquity and in sin we were conceived. Mankind’s sinful nature predates the acquisition of “stuff,” so no amount of self-deprivation will free a person from temptation or sin.
While rules about beards, buttons and buggies can’t produce a pure heart, it does not mean that Christians should have no concern about their similarity with the world. In truth, if there is no observable difference between a Christian and the world, there is cause for concern. This was evident in the life of Abraham’s nephew, Lot.
Genesis 19 records the judgment that God poured out on Sodom due to the exceeding wickedness of the people of that city. Prior to its destruction, two angels contacted Lot to warn him to flee the city. In their exhortation they told him to gather all the members of his family and to escape without delay. This is how the subsequent exchange with Lot’s sons-in-law went.
So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. (Gen. 19:14)
They thought Lot was joking! Why would his sons-in-law fail to believe the seriousness of his declaration about the imminent wrath of God? That only happens if, prior to this moment, his family had witnessed little difference in his behavior from those where he lived. If Lot had regularly sought first the kingdom of God in his speech and action, they could not possibly have thought he was joking about his concern over God’s impending judgment.
Genesis 19:16 describes what Lot did when his family did not respond. On hearing the angels’ urgent command, it reads, “But he lingered.” His city is about to be subjected to divine destruction and he dawdled. He hesitated. He lingered. It is only because Abraham interceded for him that Lot was saved at all. And the only reason that anyone other than Lot escaped was because the angels forcibly grabbed his wife and two daughters. Even then, despite an explicit command against it, his wife “looked back” at the cost of her life.
The response of Lot’s family to laugh, linger and look back is a sober warning. If God told you He was going to pour out His righteous judgment on the world tomorrow, would you need someone to vouch for you, that you do not belong to this world? If God gave you the opportunity to tell others about the impending judgment, would they take you seriously or would your grave warning be out of character like some kind of joke? If God forcibly rescued those over whom you have spiritual oversight, would they follow you willingly or would they be looking back, longing for the world they’re leaving?
It is not a biblical requirement to live a life free of cell phones, cars or cable TV, but it is mandatory to avoid being conformed to this world. The Christian that seeks first the kingdom of God will, naturally, be different from their neighbors. They will speak differently, dress differently, spend their money differently, organize their time differently, love their spouse differently and parent differently. Are those differences evident in your life?
When you think about the implications of living a life that is holier than the one you live today, does that appeal to you, or do you linger? Ask God to increase your affection for Him and your desire to do His will and decrease your affection for this world and the desires of the flesh.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 Jn. 2:15–17)