World-Impacting, but not Worldly

God calls us to impact the world, but not to imitate the world. I have been trying to think of a clever catchphrase to describe the difference between worldly people and those who change the world in a positive way.

Kosmos, the Greek word translated “world” in the New Testament, is a multi-faceted term. From *kosmos *we derive words like cosmology and cosmetics. In Romans 1:20, kosmos refers to God’s creation. The word can mean humanity in general, as in John 3:16 (“for God so loved the world”). It can mean adornment like hairstyles, jewelry, and clothing (1 Peter 3:3). It describes the temporary setting where we experience pleasure and suffering (1 Corinthians 7:31 says, “the world in its present form is passing away”). And sometimes kosmos refers to the sin-laden spiritual environment that lures us away from God. That’s why 1 John 2:15-17 warns us not to love the world or be deceived by worldly lust, power, and sinful desires.

I wish I could come up with a catchy name or phrase that expresses what it means to impact the kosmos without being captured by it. I thought of “Cosmopolitan Christian,” but that sounds like a magazine cover. “Cosmetic Christian”? No way. “Cosmo Christian”? I don’t think so.

I considered other possibilities. Using the initials for Global Minded, I wondered if “GM Christian” might work, but that sounds like a car dealership.

Eyes on the World

A flashy name for the idea still eludes me, but here are some characteristics of the kind of people who impact the world in a positive way.

Come to think of it, I don’t need to come up with a fancy name for a person who impacts

the world. Disciples enthusiastic about God’s worldwide mission shouldn’t be unusual; they should be normal. And we already have a term for that: Christians.