Tansian University Journal of Arts, Management & Social Sciences

This paper studies the phrase "the Church is in the world but not of the world." Christ while on earth had one united community – the church – which he left under the leadership of the foremost apostle, Peter (Matt 16:18). None was lost except Judas. Even before he ascended into heaven, he made arrangements on how they will be guided by the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). This Spirit eventually vivified them (Acts 2:1- 4) and encouraged them to do things in common with one mind and heart (Acts 2:44- 45; 4:32). The desire was for the 'Waters of Baptism to be thicker than blood'. Hence, they were called Christ's followers in Antioch (Acts 11:19-26). It was this same Church that Christ gave the order to go and evangelize the whole world (Matt 28:18-20) that brought Christianity into Nigeria. Though the Church was already divided into scandalous factions before entering into Nigeria, it has become even more factionalized today than ever within Nigeria. Apart from the divisions in the Church that have made the prayer of Jesus look ridiculous, there is also ethnicity, in authenticity, materialism or business in religion and so on. This paper exposes how the standard of the world has affected and influenced the Church instead of the other way round. This was achieved through thematic exegesis of John 17:6-26. Significantly this work serves as a clarion call for the Church to live according to their vocation and prayer of Jesus for her, 'to be in the world but not of the world,' and 'to be one.'

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