Separation

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. – 2 Corinthians 6.14-18

I almost fear to broach this issue. The concept of Bible separation has been an issue that has been hotly debated and discussed in my lifetime. What does it really mean? From what and whom must we separate? How far does separation go?

I still battle with this. There was a time when separation was the considered by some to be the most important doctrine that we needed to observe. And it is important. That’s why we need to know what it is.

Paul speaks of some vital truths. We live in a wicked world. Sometimes we must choose to separate ourselves from that wickedness in a very clear cut way. We cannot be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We cannot be tied in such away that we must compromise our faith. We cannot, for example, tie ourselves in marriage with unbelievers.

All this is true, but I think that the clear lesson on separation is found in Jesus’ prayer for the church. It is obvious that Bible separation is important to Him. He prays that his people would not be taken out of the world. We can’t just pull ourselves apart from it and live on our own. Instead Jesus prays that we would not become part of the world and its way and manners and systems.

While we are out in the world may God give us the strength not to of the world.