As another Freeper mentioned, this meme is taken from the words of Christ Himself.
Posted on 10/13/2012 9:13:19 AM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
Most non-Christians are confounded when they see vehicles on the road with an NOTW sticker affixed to the window or bumper.
They either don’t know what the letters stand for or – if someone clues them in – they don’t know what exactly the phrase means.
Not of This World.
Two polls provide some insight. One, from the Public Religion Research Institute, was released a few weeks ago. The other, from Baylor University, was released last year.
In the PRRI survey, 81 percent of the 2,500 sampled said that religion played an important role in their lives. And most of those said they believe they are living in a country with a divinely ordained place in human history.
What’s interesting is that 20 percent of those surveyed confided that they were jobless at some point or another during the past two years. Some 42 percent identified themselves as either working class or lower income. Yet, most thought there were better days ahead.
That optimism in the face of economic adversity is irrational to those without a faith life. That explains the finding by Baylor researchers that people who are worriers, who are maudlin, who are depressed are less likely to attend church or consider themselves very religious.
Conversely, said Kevin Dougherty, a sociologist who worked on the Baylor study, “What we picked up on is, religion is a motivator for people who say that, despite their circumstances, they believe with hard work things will get better, and, maybe by God’s grace and help, we are going to make it.”
Indeed, 73 percent of those surveyed by Baylor said they believe God has a plan for their lives. And those who accept that God is in control, who humbly submit themselves to His divine will, have a peace that surpasses all understanding.
That’s what NOTW means.
Those who are not of this world know that nothing shall separate them from the love of Christ. Not tribulation, distress or persecution. Not a the loss of a job or a home foreclosure. Not a bad prognosis from the doctor or the passing of a loved one. Not the betrayal of friends or the attacks of enemies.
We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
As the Apostle Paul proclaimed, “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I’ve never seen that term before.
I must add to that I don’t see how G-d, or my faith in G-d, is “not of this world”.
G-d is the world & everything within this world, He is in me (His breath gave me life), as is His Word.
In fact, G-d’s Kingdom will be reestablished on this world at some point, so how exactly is any of that “not of this world”?
What an odd christian meme that makes no sense.
Dear Brent,
To me “Not of this world” means that this planet is not the true home of me/my soul. My true home is with Jesus and His Father in Heaven. I am currently dwelling here, but as a follower of Jesus, one can say that “I am a stranger in a strange land.” (Thanks to Robert Heinlein from whom I copied the line.)
Thus I see the three of us, you, Christian Diarist, and I, saying the same thing with different words. As an earthly comparison, the large city I’ve lived in the last 20+ years and where my children were born, I see as a ‘temporary home’ with my “true home” being where I grew up in the Midwest. (here home referrs to physical locations, not spiritual)
Brent,
It makes perfect sense. Christ Himself said "My Kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36
The Master is merely indicating that His Kingdom is to yet come and we are not to conform ourselves to this world and its carnal ways.
Thanks. I had not seen this acronym before, and didn’t know what it means. I agree with the thought behind it, this world isn’t my home.
As another Freeper mentioned, this meme is taken from the words of Christ Himself.
Perhaps you should read chapater 17 of the book of John. In particular Jn 17:14 - "I have given them Your word: and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
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