The World’s Patina

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

James 1:27

The bronze mentioned in the Bible was an alloy of copper and other metals such as tin. Today, copper is widely used in cookware, vases, sinks, and pots, and for ornamental purposes. Over time, bronze and copper, exposed to the elements, develop a patina—a greenish sheen, highlighted by dark spots that create an appearance of age. Some people find the patina on copper highly desirable.

The spotting of ornamental copper objects might be desirable, but another category of spotting is not: when Christians become spotted by the world. The apostle Paul says that Christ’s goal is to keep His bride, the church, from becoming spotted or blemished (Ephesians 5:27). Peter says every believer is to be diligent about being found in Christ, unspotted and blameless (2 Peter 3:14). We become spotted by the world when we become friends with it (James 4:4). Are you developing a worldly patina? Compared to the purity of Christ, the difference will be unattractive.

We avoid spotting by living in Christ—being in the world but not of the world.

The ship’s place is in the sea, but God pity the ship when the sea gets into it.

ANONYMOUS