And yeah, in a way, I'm back. I was thinking a bit about this. Paul was telling the people to stay where they were, and I could see it from two perspectives. One from the side that they thought Jesus would return soon, like in 50 years or something, and it is seen from words like "the time is short" or "the world is on it's way out". The other is from a cultural point of view, people were being pressured into becoming what they weren't, seeing the greener other side. Gentiles to Jews and slaves to free are the two main ones, along with the entire theme of the chapter on marriage and singlehood.

But what ties both these things I believe is the prevailing culture at that time. One of the thinking that "the end is near" while the other a status society, where ranks in society were very normal.

And this brought me to think of the other major Christian influence in my life, the Kristos Kai Kosmos, which was repackaged into the Cultural Mandate. Paul's message was to not entangle ourselves with this world at all. Even if possible to avoid marriage, to not "waste" time on domestic affairs and serve the Lord/Master wholeheartedly. Now farrrrrrr be it from me to point out that such a saint inspired by the very Holy Spirit was wrong. However, the Cultural Mandate on the other hand, urges us to redeem culture, not to distance ourselves from it, but to be in it and show the world the higher standard that there is to life, the abundant life that Jesus promised.

How would I reconcile two clearly opposing views? Well, I guess for me with my level of understanding, I would say the current culture is what determines the best course of action, but either course of action must lead to the same point, leading people to the Saviour.

Paul urged the people to be fully devoted to Christ, probably because in those days, that was the culture of religion. Anything less than fully devoted lives would be seen as a frivolous, trivial pursuit of fools. Wisdom was highly regarded in his day and things of this world were seen as second to the things of that is to come. A lifestyle of full devotion and focus would be something that would attract those people looking for the truth.

Ps Kong in his message urges people to be part of culture. And that's because people these days couldn't care more about religion and spirituality, they focus on practicality. It's the "so what" generation. So what if your religion is good, how does it benefit me? So what if you're a Christian family, how is your marriage any different? So what if you're a Christian worker, how does that help you in your career? So what if you're a Christian student who prays before your exams, does that change the questions that are going to come out?

And that's precisely why we must engage culture in our generation. Not because that's the better way of life, but to show those in culture there is a better way of life. There is a God who cares about your way of life, and wants to show you not only a better way, but The Way life was designed to be.

This is not to say life was designed to be lived like the 21st Century and those in Paul's day were living it wrongly. But God wants to give us the best life where we are. Be it the 14th century, or the 21st, or when we hit the 31st if God permits. That's why the verses today pointed out to don't be wishing you were someplace else, with someone else, and if I may extend without being guilty of eternal judgment, that we shouldn't be wishing we were someone else, part of another clique or many other "elses".

So it's now for me to accept where I am, where I am going, and like what Ps Kevin said, who I want to be on the way there :)