The Need For Separation

Before the advent of the internal combustion engine, people used different animals for transporting things or accomplishing certain jobs.  Frequently more than one animal was required to accomplish the purpose so they were yoked or harnessed together as a team to increase the available power.  The most satisfactory teams were of two or more animals of the same type and similar size and strength.  Trying to work teams of mixed animals often caused problems.   When two widely different sized horses were used, the smaller horse would almost invariably be exhausted by the end of the time because it was far harder for him to pull the same amount as the larger animal.  Though an ox and a heavy draft horse might be equally strong, the ox had trouble walking as fast as the horse.  To try to work together for long periods resulted in frustration and exhaustion for both animals because their different capabilities keep them constantly interfering with each other.

In II Corinthians 6:14-18, Paul uses this concept to illustrate the conflicts between Christians and those who are not.  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

While we may work together to accomplish a particular goal, it will be frustrating and self-defeating to try to establish long term cooperation due to constantly conflicting values, standards and goals.  In John 15:19-20, Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

Jesus found himself constantly in conflict with the goals and philosophies of the Jewish people, and they eventually crucified him even though he had violated none of their laws, and he warns that the same thing will happen when we try to follow his example.  As a result, we often feel pressured to conform the unsaved world’s standards and philosophies.  Romans 12:2 warns, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  By conforming to the world’s ideals, we miss out on the blessings and rewards God has for us. 

We have to choose whether we value God’s approval or man’s more.  I John 2:15-17 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”  In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  We cannot live by the world’s standards and by God’s.  Despite our best efforts, we are going to end up putting one set of standards ahead of the other. 

Sadly in Christian circles today there is a great deal of emphasis on adapting our beliefs and practices to the world’s ideas.   Trying to do so puts us squarely in conflict with God, as James 4:4 tells us.  “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  

I once dealt with a lady who was having marital problems because her husband didn’t feel like she had time for him.  She insisted she was unable to set priorities and so she did the things she liked least first and as a result she never had time to spend with him.  She never accepted the fact that using such a system she was making it clear her husband didn’t matter as much as a dirty toilet to her.  Their eventual divorce was not a surprise.  Sadly, by trying to adapt to the world, we make it clear we care more about the world than about God.  As James 4:4 tells us.  “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

In this series, we will be looking at how we should respond to some of the issues we face day to day.