Coconut
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- Joined
- Feb 17, 2005
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Isolation or Compromise
What does the Bible teach about the legitimate call to live a holy life and the responsibility of Christ's followers to avoid isolation from the unbelieving world?
The Bible does teach us to separate from the world. (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I John 2:15-16; Romans 12:2) What does that mean exactly, and what is the purpose of that separation?
There are some indications that separation does not necessarily entail isolation, and that it is compatible with engagement with the unbelieving world... I Peter 2:9-12, for example, says that we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light". How can we do that if we are isolated from those who most need to hear it? Peter goes on to admonish us to abstain from sinful desires and live such good lives among the pagans that they may see your good deeds and glorify God." This speaks of separation for the purpose of engagement with unbelievers rather than isolation from them. In other words, separation is to a holy life, not from unholy people.
In seeking to apply the New Testament teaching on separation, it is easy to repeat the error many Jews made in the Old Testament. Why did God choose Abraham in the first place? So that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). In Exodus 19:5-6, God promised that Israel would be a "kingdom of priests" if they obeyed Him fully. The role of a priest is to represent the people to God. If Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, who were they to represent? It seems clear that that would have to be the other nations. In other words, God chose Israel because He cared about the nations, but many Israelites thought that they were chosen because God preferred them to the nations!
Matthew 5:13-16 sums up the paradox: we are to be different from the world, but nevertheless present in it. If we just blend in and are no different, we are salt that has lost its saltiness and lights hid under a bushel. If we withdraw and isolate ourselves, we are still lights under a bushel, because those who most need the light can't see it. Likewise, salt must be present to serve as a preservative or to give any flavor. Jesus summed up this paradox in John 17:15: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one."
These verses suggest that we are to be different from the world, yet engaged with it. How can we do that? The "mother of all examples" on this is Jesus. He was repeatedly vilified for hanging out with "publicans and sinners," yet He was undoubtedly the holiest person who ever lived. He said that He came to engage the world (to save sinners * Luke 5:32; 19:10), but that He also came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). He gave what is probably His best-known parable (the prodigal son * Luke 15:11-32), along with two other parables, in response to criticism of His association with "sinners". Yet He could confidently challenge His adversaries to try to convict Him of sin, knowing that they would be unsuccessful (John 8:46). He was tempted in every way like we are, but without sin (Hebrews 4:15-16).
http://www.navigators.org/us/
What does the Bible teach about the legitimate call to live a holy life and the responsibility of Christ's followers to avoid isolation from the unbelieving world?
The Bible does teach us to separate from the world. (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I John 2:15-16; Romans 12:2) What does that mean exactly, and what is the purpose of that separation?
There are some indications that separation does not necessarily entail isolation, and that it is compatible with engagement with the unbelieving world... I Peter 2:9-12, for example, says that we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light". How can we do that if we are isolated from those who most need to hear it? Peter goes on to admonish us to abstain from sinful desires and live such good lives among the pagans that they may see your good deeds and glorify God." This speaks of separation for the purpose of engagement with unbelievers rather than isolation from them. In other words, separation is to a holy life, not from unholy people.
In seeking to apply the New Testament teaching on separation, it is easy to repeat the error many Jews made in the Old Testament. Why did God choose Abraham in the first place? So that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). In Exodus 19:5-6, God promised that Israel would be a "kingdom of priests" if they obeyed Him fully. The role of a priest is to represent the people to God. If Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, who were they to represent? It seems clear that that would have to be the other nations. In other words, God chose Israel because He cared about the nations, but many Israelites thought that they were chosen because God preferred them to the nations!
Matthew 5:13-16 sums up the paradox: we are to be different from the world, but nevertheless present in it. If we just blend in and are no different, we are salt that has lost its saltiness and lights hid under a bushel. If we withdraw and isolate ourselves, we are still lights under a bushel, because those who most need the light can't see it. Likewise, salt must be present to serve as a preservative or to give any flavor. Jesus summed up this paradox in John 17:15: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one."
These verses suggest that we are to be different from the world, yet engaged with it. How can we do that? The "mother of all examples" on this is Jesus. He was repeatedly vilified for hanging out with "publicans and sinners," yet He was undoubtedly the holiest person who ever lived. He said that He came to engage the world (to save sinners * Luke 5:32; 19:10), but that He also came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). He gave what is probably His best-known parable (the prodigal son * Luke 15:11-32), along with two other parables, in response to criticism of His association with "sinners". Yet He could confidently challenge His adversaries to try to convict Him of sin, knowing that they would be unsuccessful (John 8:46). He was tempted in every way like we are, but without sin (Hebrews 4:15-16).
http://www.navigators.org/us/
