Christian Working in a Secular Town with Mixed Believers
Christians living in secular towns with mixed believers face the challenge of maintaining their faith and practices amidst differing worldviews. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, addresses how Christians should handle disputes, stating that serious differences between believers should be settled by other believers rather than secular courts [2]. This suggests a distinct community identity for Christians, even when living within a broader secular society.
The concept of the Church itself, as a visible society, is understood to be "separated from the world, and dedicated to God and his service" [4]. John Calvin further articulates that wherever the sacraments are administered according to Christ's institution and the Gospel is preached, there the Church of God exists, as Christ promised to be present where two or three are gathered in His name [8]. This implies that even in a secular environment, the presence of a believing community, however small, constitutes the Church.
Historically, figures like Augustine recognized the distinction between the "heavenly city" and the "earthly city," noting that the celestial city worships one God, while the earthly city often attributes various aspects of life to different deities [9]. This distinction highlights the inherent tension for Christians living in a secular context. Augustine also discussed the balance between spiritual work and "secular business," noting that those "going a warfare for God" should not entangle themselves with secular affairs to please God [10]. However, he also acknowledged that those who preach the Gospel have a right to be supported by those they serve, rather than always working with their hands [6].
Jesus himself encountered unbelief in his hometown, marveling at their lack of faith, which limited the mighty works he performed there [3]. In one instance, after healing a blind man, Jesus instructed him not to go back into the town of Bethsaida or tell anyone there, possibly because of the inhabitants' notorious unbelief [1]. This suggests that there are times when a withdrawal from or a cautious approach to a secular or unbelieving community might be appropriate.
The book of Revelation also addresses the dangers of mixing Christian faith with pagan practices and worldly lifestyles, as seen in the letter to the church in Thyatira, a city known for its trade guilds [5]. This serves as a warning for Christians in secular environments to guard against syncretism. Despite these challenges, Jesus also saw the "harvest" as plenteous in cities, towns, and villages, indicating that secular areas are also fields for evangelism and spiritual growth [7].
Sources
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 8:26: And he sent him away to his house,.... Which seems to have been in one of the neighbouring villages or was one of the houses scattered about in the fields for the conveniency of rural business. Saying, neither go into the town: or "that town", as the Syriac, the town or city of Bethsaida: nor tell it to any in the town; to any of the inhabitants of the town that he should meet with any where or at any time: the reason of this was not merely or only because Christ would have the miracle concealed; but chiefly because the inhabitants of this place were notorious for t”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:1: 6:1-11 When serious differences arise between two Christians, they are not to be settled by a secular court, but by other believers.”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 6:6: And he marvelled because of their unbelief,.... Which was the reason, as Matthew says, Mat 13:58, why he did not many mighty works there, because they continued their prejudices against him, and their unbelief in him, notwithstanding what he did do, which was matter of admiration to him; wherefore he took his leave of them, as an ungrateful and unworthy people; and it is never after observed, that he returned there any more. It was a surprise to Christ, as man, that his country men should not believe in him, but reject him as the Messiah, on account of the above things: ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 64: an external profession of the doctrines of the Gospel, and subjection to the laws and ordinances of Christ, appear as a society separated from the world, and dedicated to God and his service. In this view, in the present imperfect state, the Church comprehends branches that are withered, as well as those that bear fruit. Now the covenant of grace subsists between the blessed God and the Church, as such a visible Society, 567 567 To this sentence Mr. Blair appends the following note: “In no other way can we conceive the covenant to subsist”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 2:18: 2:18-29 The letter to the church in Thyatira confronts Christians who mix Christianity with pagan practices and a worldly lifestyle. 2:18 Thyatira was an outpost city known for its many trade guilds, including weavers and dyers (Acts 16:14). • The flaming eyes of the Son of God indicate penetrating perception; the solid feet portray Christ’s stability, in vivid contrast to the famous Colossus of Rhodes, an enormous statue which had once been thought to be firmly planted until an earthquake destroyed it in 226 BC.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — OF THE WORK OF MONKS. (part 43): to have time ourselves for those works to which we exhort you. For though we might say, "Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth a flock, and partaketh not of the milk of the flock?"[5] yet I call our Lord Jesus, in Whose name I fearlessly say these things, for a witness upon my soul, that so far as it concerns mine own convenience, I would much rather every day at certain hours, as much as is appointed by rule in well-governed monas”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 9:35: Then saith he unto his disciples,.... His heart being drawn out, and filled with pity to these poor people, upon observing the miserable and sad condition they were in; he turns himself to his disciples, whom he was about to call, and send forth in a more public manner to preach the Gospel, of which we read in the following chapter; and in order to quicken them to this service, and engage their hearts in it, says unto them, the harvest truly is plenteous; meaning the large number of God's elect, which were in these cities, towns, and villages, and in other places: ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 83: and heard, wherever we see the sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ, there we cannot have any doubt that the Church of God has some existence, since his promise cannot fail, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” ( Mt. 18:20 ). But that we may have a clear summary of this subject, we must proceed by the following steps:—The Church universal is the multitude collected out of all nations, who, though dispersed and far distant from each other, agree in one truth”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 17.--WHAT PRODUCES PEACE, AND WHAT DISCORD, BETWEEN THE HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY CITIES. (part 2): to another, oil to another, the woods to another, money to another, navigation to another, wars and victories to another, marriages to another, births and fecundity to another, and other things to other gods: and as the celestial city, on the other hand, knew that one God only was to be worshipped, and that to Him alone was due that service which the Greeks call <greek>latreia</greek>, and which can be given only to a god, it has come t”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — OF THE WORK OF MONKS. (part 21): upon such like ways, because from weakness of body he could not work with his hands, he thus exhorts, admonishes, and comforts him: "Labor," saith he, "as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man, going a warfare for God, entangleth himself with secular business; that he may please Him to whom he hath proved himself.[1] For he that striveth for masteries, is not crowned except he strive lawfully.''[2] Hereupon, lest the other should be put to straits, saying, "Dig I cannot, to beg I am ashamed,"[3] he adjoined, "The ”