Come Out From Among Them....

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Had this scripture in my family devotions last night, and wanted to see if I could drum up some comments on it. I know that it is often used as a scripture for dress standards, but I really see it more as a lifestye issue. So my question is.........

HOW DO YOU APPLY THIS SCRIPTURE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?? (give examples of what you have "separated" from)

I do not attend worship services devoted to Satan (I'm not even certain there are any close by, but who knows?). When visiting a shrine or other site as a tourist I do not pay respect to the idols or the things reverenced there. I don't go out of my way to disrespect the people who happen to worship in these places either. I just don't join in their rites.

I do not give money to support anti-Christian causes like the ACLU.

I decline to partake of foods made with blood, even cooked curdled blood like some European dishes use; out of respect for the instructions of the apostles in Acts 15:20. In fact, I can say, though I do so without boasting, that I have scrupulously kept all of the words of the apostles found there all of my life.

"But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood."

Neither I nor my children, as long as they are under my power to prohibit them, have tatoos or any sort of intentional piercings (Leviticus 19:28). I know that for some, this falls into a "shell fish" kind of a catagory, and I have eaten shell fish and "fish" like shrimp and lobster that are forbidden under the kosher laws; but the whole idea of the needles leaves me queezy.

I speak out against injustice in the community, in whatever small way that I can make a difference. I will always join my voice with those who cry out against the shedding of innocent blood, whether it be the blood of the unborn or the elderly or anyone in between. To remain silent is often to be joined with Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15) or "destruction" and "wickedness."

I do not vote for Democratic Party candidates.

There's really quite a list of things that I will not partake of. I don't feel that I need to go and spoil every party I don't want to be a part of.

Just my absence from an after work get-to-together is enough to send a message that the venue might be a bit too risque and folks often make accomodations so that more people will be able to attend the next time. After any of these instances I have been approached by people who will thank me for "taking a stand" and tell me how uncomfortable they were with the scene.

In the course of my rather dull life I have to admit that most of the stands I have had to take on the subject of righteousness have been in what most folks would think of as mundane circumstances. The only exception would be my seperation from the Apostolic ministry. My involvement there got to the point that it was unconscionable for me to remain. I had to "come out from among them" an be seperate.

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Ronzo

As long as we walk in this flesh, we will never ever ever be able to separate ourselves from unbelievers or their godless practices.

They are everywhere.


And how do we expect to share the gospel them if we separate ourselves from them?

No, Ronzo...I do not have to attend their orgies and other forms of debauchery to reach them and share the gospel. We certainly can stay away from them in this manner. How do you interpret that scripture? Is it not unbelievers that it is referring to?

Originally Posted by J-Roc

No, Ronzo...I do not have to attend their orgies and other forms of debauchery to reach them and share the gospel. We certainly can stay away from them in this manner. How do you interpret that scripture? Is it not unbelievers that it is referring to?

Yeah, bro... that's EXACTLY what I meant...

Whatever...

You missed the point, dude...

forget it...

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

The next verse in this topic, which starts the next chapter, is...


2Cr 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Is the separation he is talking about to be applied by us "cleansing ourselves" from filthiness of the flesh and spirit??

Sin. We must strive against sin. And not by ourselves but through the Spirit we crucify the flesh. Rom 8

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Ronzo

Yeah, bro... that's EXACTLY what I meant...

Whatever...

You missed the point, dude...

forget it...

Yeah, I guess I did miss the point to your comment to me. sorry.

Originally Posted by J-Roc

Yeah, I guess I did miss the point to your comment to me. sorry.

It wasn't to you. If you re-read it, you'll see I didn't direct my comment at you specifically. It was as general comment. Hence the phrase "if we" as opposed to "if you".

I simply copied your post as a jumping off point to post some thoughts...

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Had this scripture in my family devotions last night, and wanted to see if I could drum up some comments on it. I know that it is often used as a scripture for dress standards, but I really see it more as a lifestye issue. So my question is.........

HOW DO YOU APPLY THIS SCRIPTURE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?? (give examples of what you have "separated" from)

It's about a difference in agendas, goals, desires, and affections.

I don't believe it is as much about dress as it is inward cravings. One can dress "holy" and still be sinful and lost. One can dress what some of us would consider "worldly" and yet have a heart and affection set on God.

It's about what you allow to sit on the throne of your mind. Are your desires selfish,or selfless?

Separation is found in the first and greatest commandment.

I'm too lazy to look up the reference.

[Sam]

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,
18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Therefore since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 from the Amplified Bible

15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
1 John 2:15-17 from the Amplified Bible

1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Bible

27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
James 1:27 from the Amplified Bible

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying (requesting) for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You.
10 All [things that are] Mine are Yours, and all [things that are] Yours belong to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them. [They have done Me honor; in them My glory is achieved.]
11 And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [[a]in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one].
12 While I was with them, I kept and preserved them in Your Name [[b]in the knowledge and worship of You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot--the one who is now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].
14 I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
John 17:9-17 from the Amplified Bible

[Newman]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

2Cr 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
2Cr 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

HOW DO YOU APPLY THIS SCRIPTURE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?? (give examples of what you have "separated" from)

Stmatt- I think one must be able to lay this Scripture alongside the 5th chapter of 1 Corinthians where Paul says he doesn't expect us not to keep company with nonbelievers [but rather separated from sin].

"9 I wrote you an epistle not to keep company with fornicators; 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of the world, or with the covetous, or the extorioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out into the world.

11 But I have written unto you not to keep comapany, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or and idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such one is not to eat (1 Cor 5:9-11).

Btw- God's Word is amazing. I just saw with brand new eyes; the preceeding verses at the beginning of the chapter. It was just what I needed to see. Thanks for posting.