Have you ever felt like you just don’t quite fit in? There’s something powerful about these words from Jesus. He’s telling us something fundamental about our identity as His followers. We exist in this interesting tension—we’re physically here in the world, but spiritually, we’re set apart from it. It’s both a privilege and, let’s be honest, sometimes a real challenge. Jesus said:
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. – John 15:19
The Nature of Being “Chosen Out”
When Jesus talks about choosing His disciples “out of the world,” He’s making an important distinction. This separation isn’t about becoming hermits or avoiding society. It’s about a transformation of who we are and where our true allegiance lies.
Think about what it means to be “chosen.” The original Greek word (eklegō) carries this sense of being specially selected for a purpose—not randomly picked, but handpicked with intention. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it.
This choosing creates a new kind of citizenship for us. Paul later wrote to the Philippians, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). We’re still here, still engaged with our communities and societies, but our ultimate loyalty, our core values, and our deeper purpose are aligned with God’s kingdom rather than the systems around us.
The Inevitable Tension
Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat what this means. He’s straightforward about the friction that naturally happens when kingdom values bump up against worldly priorities. The “hatred” He mentions isn’t always active persecution (though that certainly happens in many places), but often just the natural resistance that occurs when different value systems collide.
We’ve all felt this tension in different ways:
- When we choose to prioritize eternal matters over temporary gain
- When our ethics don’t match up with what’s culturally acceptable
- When our faith leads us to make choices that seem foolish by worldly standards
- When our commitment to Christ takes precedence over other loyalties
But here’s the thing—this tension isn’t something we should try to avoid. In fact, it often confirms that our identity really has been transformed. As Augustine wisely noted, “If you are praised by the world, ask yourself what wrong you have done to deserve its approval.” That’s something to think about, isn’t it?
Living as the Chosen in Today’s World
So how do we live this out? How do we navigate being “chosen out” while still engaging meaningfully with the world around us?
- Embrace your distinct identity – When you feel “out of step” with the culture around you, that might actually be a sign of spiritual health, not failure. Don’t be afraid to be different where it matters.
- Stay engaged with love – Being “not of the world” doesn’t mean pulling away from people. Jesus himself was known as a “friend of sinners.” We’re called to engage, just with a different spirit and purpose.
- Expect some misunderstanding – Let’s be real—when your values and choices don’t line up with what everyone expects, you’re going to be misunderstood sometimes. Maybe even opposed. That’s part of the journey.
- Find your people – Seek out others who share this “chosen” identity. We need each other for encouragement and strength when swimming against the cultural current gets tough.
- Remember who chose you – The same Christ who warned us about the world’s hatred also promised, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). That’s our ultimate source of confidence.
In a world that puts so much emphasis on fitting in and being accepted, Jesus’ words remind us that authentic faith will sometimes mark us as outsiders. But this outsider status comes with something incredible—the privilege of being personally chosen by Christ for His purposes.
Next week, we’ll dig into how this “chosen” identity shapes our understanding of Christian community as we look at Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).