This meme has been circulating on social media lately:

The truth to this requires nuance. There is almost always more than one way to “become like the world.”

The world tends to give us at least two options. It doesn’t care which we choose, as long as we remain blind to the fact that each of those options fails to align with Jesus, his character, and his kingdom.

The world loves to offer us that false dichotomy (probably more common than a false trichotomy), making us think that since we are against ONE wrong option we must therefore be doing the right thing, though it’s quite possible both are wrong.

Reading Christopher Watkin’s Biblical Critical Theory I see, “Now, if I live in a society that every day finds a hundred subtle ways to send me the message ‘Conform!’ and I do conform, then how do I know whether my conforming is something I want to do or just something I have been conditioned to value? I can hardly claim to be following my own initiative. In just the same way, if I live in a society which every day finds a hundred subtle ways to send me the message ‘Go your own way!’ and I determine to go my own way, then am I not in the same position as the conformist in a society of conformity?”

The world tells us that the “They” (a useful Heideggerian idea) wants to manipulate us, to push us to conform. As our pretend friend, that element of the world sidles up to us, points at the “They” and invites us to boldly stand on our own – with them – against the “They.” That pretend ally says, “Be your own person – exactly as I tell you to.”