As a Christian there are parts of the Old Testament that I find really hard to get my head round. Over the last few months we have been looking at the book of Joshua at church on Sunday mornings - the story of how the people of God, under God's leadership, moved through the 'Promised Land' killing those who lived there and driving them from their homes. I know some of the arguments - it was God's judgement, or it was to ensure that these people did not lead Israel away from God - but they don't make it easier to understand.
This week we reached chapter 23 - Joshua warning the people to have nothing to do with these foreigners in case they entice them to follow their false gods. How are we to apply this passage to life in London in 2008? Most of my neighbours are Hindu. Most of the children at my daughter's school are not from a Christian background. What are we to do? Have nothing to do with them? Of course not.
As Christians the challenge is to live in the world, so that we are able to contribute positively to it, bringing the kingdom of God as hope replaces hopelessness, peace replaces anxiety, love replaces hate, light replaces darkness - and yet to remember that we are not of the world, so we don't buy into the world's values.
I think all to often the church has felt that its position in society has been to issue a list of 'dos' and 'don'ts' and to call on the legislators to penalise anyone who steps out of line. But aren't we called to live in the world, to be distinctive, to show the world that there is a better way, that they may say, 'I want some of that'.
