Week 14, Day 4: Come Out and Be Separate

Today’s Reading:  1 Corinthians 8:1-9:15

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks that a Christian has is to figure out how to properly apply Paul’s instructions as found in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.  We certainly face the challenge of learning how to live in a sinful world, but not be a part of the sinful world around us.  In one sense, we are forced to live among those who are wicked, and yet in another sense we are commanded to have no part with them!  How do we put these instructions into practice?

I am sure you can probably figure out that I cannot give you all the answers as it pertains to this question.  But, I would like us to think about the attitude that we present when we think about this topic.  Many use the fact that we have to live among ungodly people as an excuse to become a part of their practices.  And, even those who are successful in keeping themselves pure, often put themselves in such close proximity to the ungodliness that they endanger their family’s spiritual well-being.  I cannot help but think about Lot as he separated himself from Abraham.  He was sure that he wanted the good land, even though it meant camping toward the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot is called a righteous man in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:7), but he ended up losing his whole family, presumably to the wicked influence of these wicked cities.

When we are considering what it means to “come out from among them and be separate,” we have to consider what our attitude is.  Are we trying to be like Lot and get just as close to worldliness as we can get without getting any of it on us?  Or do we have the attitude that says that we are truly going to be separate from the worldliness.  Abraham continued to live in the land, but he didn’t allow himself to be influenced by the wickedness of the people around him as Lot did.  That needs to be our attitude.

In practice, what does this mean?  Paul clearly tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”  Why would we join ourselves in any kind of venture with a person who is not a Christian?  Doing so is just exactly like Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom.  We are opening ourselves up to being influenced by those who will cause us severe spiritual harm.  We should think about this when we choose people to be our friends.  Why would we make our closest friends those who would be a constant temptation to us?  We should think about this when we are dating, or choosing a mate.  Why would a Christian ever choose one who is not a Christian to be their life long companion?  There is no other earthly relationship that can be more detrimental if we are “unequally yoked together” with one who is not a believer.  We should consider this principle when we enter into business agreements with others.  I realize we have to do business with non-Christians.  But, why would we choose to enter into some business partnership (such as to run a small business) with one who does not share the same faith that we have.  We expose ourselves to situations where we will be tempted to do things that are simply not ethical or moral.

This is just a short list of possible applications to Paul’s instructions.  We can try to make excuse for why it is OK for us to go down these roads, or to ignore Paul’s instructions, but it will end in spiritual heartache.  Lot ended up losing all of his family.  Are we willing to take that kind of risk?  I surely hope not!