SEPARATE MEANS DIFFERENT!

SEPARATE MEANS DIFFERENT!

2 Cor 6:14-18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 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.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

          Christian separation is a controversial issue. Endless hours can be spent just trying to identify terms. Strangely, Christian separation seems only to be controversial among Christians. The non-Christian world seems to understand, albeit grudgingly, that becoming a believer necessarily makes one different. Why then are Christians so divided on this issue?

          The dictionary definition of the common word “different” is: “unlike in nature and quality; distinct; special.” This compliments the original intent of the word “separate” in our text. The Greek word aphorizo means: “to set off by boundary; to limit; to exclude.” The world seems to understand, and even accept, that there are certain things a real Christian does not do. Perhaps that is why one can order a “Shirley Temple” instead of an alcoholic mixed drink. The drinking world, in that regard, has made allowances for us. Why are Christians so unclear on the issue?

          The problem seems to be the tension between individualism and community; or rather conformity. God intended for believers to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). This is part of the transforming process and is the end result of everything “working out” as is stated in verse 28. We are warned not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). The idea is that we constantly compare our thoughts with the revealed thoughts of God and bring them into agreement. The world understands and allows this. Why is it so offensive to believers?

          The culture seeks to change our mind by applying pressure from without. Subtly, slowly, the culture challenges our exclusiveness and seeks our conformity. The Holy Spirit seeks to transform, literally to transfigure, us from within. The result is tension and conflict. This is why Jesus said that He would set family members against one another (Luke 12:51-53). The whole Christian community feels this tension.

          The prodigal left the father’s farm because it was so uncomfortably structured and restricting to his desire for individualism and liberty. The father never thought that transforming the farm into a tavern would make his son stay or return home sooner. No, home was “different” from the riotous culture that had swallowed the son. In the end the son needed a place that was so different from his world that it provided a refuge. This is still the challenge of the church. Christianity is not “cool.”

Dear Lord, help me to be decidedly different without being odd. Help me to be a refuge to those who have been bruised. AMEN