"The church must be distinct from the world to reach the world." - From Chapter 1 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9, ESV). Holy and dedicated to declaring the excellencies of God-this is the church, or is it? Can we really call the church holy? A minority of those who claim to be born again say they believe in moral absolutes (Source: Barna Research). - One third of evangelicals between the ages of 18 and 35 have no problem with unmarried men and women living together (Source: Evangelical Alliance). Evangelical Christianity is becoming increasingly worldly. Materialism, hedonism, violence, sexual misconduct, pluralism, and divorce are becoming as common within the church as without. As a result the church is losing its distinct identity as a people set apart to reach the world. In this book, R. Kent Hughes builds a case for godliness in the church-a case that echoes the biblical call to holiness. The church can reach the world only if it keeps itself from being ensnared by the world. Hughes is not simply urging Christians to say no to worldliness-he is calling the church to say yes to Christ and to his call to reach our lost world. R. Kent Hughes (DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and former professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hughes is also a founder of the Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences throughout North America and worldwide. He serves as the series editor for the Preaching the Word commentary series and is the author or coauthor of many books. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Spokane, Washington, and have four children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren. ,  Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois Set Apart Calling a Worldly Church to a Godly Life By R. Kent Hughes Good News Publishers Copyright © 2003 R. Kent Hughes All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-58134-491-2 Contents Acknowledgments, Preface, 1 Set Apart to Save, 2 Set Apart to Save: Materialism, 3 Set Apart to Save: Hedonism, 4 Set Apart to Save: Viewing Sensuality, 5 Set Apart to Save: Violence and Voyeurism, 6 Set Apart to Save: Sexual Conduct, 7 Set Apart to Save: Modesty, 8 Set Apart to Save: Pluralism, 9 Set Apart to Save: Marriage, 10 Set Apart to Save: Church and the Lord's Day, 11 Set Apart to Save: The Unending Yes, Appendix I: The Gospel-Old and New, Appendix II: Internet Safety, Scripture Index, General Index, CHAPTER 1 Set Apart to Save "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." EXODUS 19:5-6 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 PETER 2:4-5 If we had only the story of Lot's life as it is told in the book of Genesis, we would never have imagined that Lot was a true believer. But Second Peter 2 tells us three times that this conflicted, compromised man was "righteous" — and more, that he was "distressed" and tormented by life in Sodom. Peter's carefully crafted description of Lot is this: "... righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard) ..." (vv. 7-8). Ironically, though Lot was revolted by Sodom, Sodom was in his soul. It is possible, then, for a believer to be distressed by the world while willfully clinging to the world. There is every evidence that righteous Lot was of no benefit whatsoever to the inhabitants of Sodom. Though he lived in Sodom for years and was prominent in its gates, and therefore would have had many opportunities to influence his friends, Lot utterly disappointed. When judgment fell on Sodom, not one righteous person could be found outside his family. No acquaintances, no neighbors, not one of his servants had come to know the Lord. His plea with the Sodomites in front of his door was dismissed by them out of hand. Lot lacked gravitas; his words carried no weight. Even more tragically, Lot's life did nothing to point his family and relatives to heaven. None of his family or friends feared God. When he urged his then future sons-in-law to flee the cities' destruction, they thought he was "jesting." Lot's words had no substance because he was so insubs