God's People should be separate

[Amisk]

"God’s people should be separate from the world in spirit and conduct. ... Habits, which influence others wrongly, ought to be given up, even though harmless to those who practice them.

The body is to be honoured and treated as God’s dwelling-place, and hence should not be polluted or injured.

It is reasonable that seekers after Holiness should completely renounce everything wrong or doubtful."

quoted from a Old Doctrine Book from the Salvation Army.

[Catherineanne]

"God’s people should be separate from the world in spirit and conduct. ... Habits, which influence others wrongly, ought to be given up, even though harmless to those who practice them.

The body is to be honoured and treated as God’s dwelling-place, and hence should not be polluted or injured.

It is reasonable that seekers after Holiness should completely renounce everything wrong or doubtful."

quoted from a Old Doctrine Book from the Salvation Army.

It is interesting that the Salvation Army is the foremost church denomination in going into the world and meeting people at their point of need, which would appear to contradict your subject heading.

Ergo, the separation from the world may be a spiritual one, but most certainly is not a physical or emotional one. Christ entered the houses of sinners and tax collectors and sanctified them by his presence, just as the Salvation Army takes Christ and his holiness with them wherever they go.

We are not to separate ourselves from the world, therefore. We are to be as salt or yeast, and spread Christ's love everywhere.

[Amisk]

It is interesting that the Salvation Army is the foremost church denomination in going into the world and meeting people at their point of need, which would appear to contradict your subject heading.

Ergo, the separation from the world may be a spiritual one, but most certainly is not a physical or emotional one. Christ entered the houses of sinners and tax collectors and sanctified them by his presence, just as the Salvation Army takes Christ and his holiness with them wherever they go.

We are not to separate ourselves from the world, therefore. We are to be as salt or yeast, and spread Christ's love everywhere.


You have kind of missed the point of the quotation. The quotation is talking of spirituality and Christan example. After all our life style tells the world where we stand spiritually. As the old saying goes, "We are in this world but we are not of this world, for we are just passing through, and we must take as many with us as we can."

You are correct we are to be salt and light in this world as we pass through it. We can't win the world by living in the sin of the world. We win the world by living a holy life, walking the talk, and standing up for those things which are Biblically correct.

You are right, we don't win the lost by hiding on Canada's Han's Island.

It was William Booth who at one point said, "it is hard to win a man to Christ while he has an empty stomach". On the other hand there is little point in filling his stomach if we don't feed his soul. Our mission is to live a holy life so that by our example he sees what a Christian should be.

Another old time saying goes, "You don't help a man out of a well by jumping in on top of him, so be careful what your testimony and example says."

Good Nite from "Wild Rose Country", which just a little south of Han's Island.

[flyingsum0]

Ughh I guess Hot dogs and french fries are out :(

[Catherineanne]

You have kind of missed the point of the quotation. The quotation is talking of spirituality and Christan example.

If you look, this is what I said. Ergo, I did not miss the point, I just said your heading is misleading.

:wave:

[Amisk]

Ughh I guess Hot dogs and French fries are out :(

It could be, that is if you believe that they are a stumbling block to your neighbour and unsaved friends. It could also be for those who fine obesity a problem.

[JTLauder]

Yeah, just saying "separate" is not very percise and can be misleading.
More specificially, we are called to be in the world, but not of it.

Practically speaking, this one speaker I heard once said it best about how Christians are suppose to live in the world: with one hand holding the Bible and the other hand holding a newspaper--be involved in what is going around you but from God's perspective.

[Catherineanne]

Yeah, just saying "separate" is not very percise and can be misleading.
More specificially, we are called to be in the world, but not of it.

Practically speaking, this one speaker I heard once said it best about how Christians are suppose to live in the world: with one hand holding the Bible and the other hand holding a newspaper--be involved in what is going around you but from God's perspective.

I don't see Christ wandering around trying to hold onto the Torah with one hand, and a Jerusalem Times in the other.

If we have Scripture engraved on our hearts, and forget the papers, then we have both hands free to do whatever comes our way. Seems much more sensible to me. :wave:

[JTLauder]

I don't see Christ wandering around trying to hold onto the Torah with one hand, and a Jerusalem Times in the other.

If we have Scripture engraved on our hearts, and forget the papers, then we have both hands free to do whatever comes our way. Seems much more sensible to me. :wave:

You miss the point. The point is the the phsyical object, but that Christians should not ignore one for the other. I repeat what I said--that we should be involved in what is going around us but approach it from God's perspective.

[Catherineanne]

You miss the point. The point is the the phsyical object, but that Christians should not ignore one for the other. I repeat what I said--that we should be involved in what is going around us but approach it from God's perspective.



Just because you do not agree with what I am saying does not mean that I am missing your point. I am making my point, not yours.

Please stop saying this, therefore.

Many thanks.

[LittleladyinChrist]

"God’s people should be separate from the world in spirit and conduct. ... Habits, which influence others wrongly, ought to be given up, even though harmless to those who practice them.

The body is to be honoured and treated as God’s dwelling-place, and hence should not be polluted or injured.

It is reasonable that seekers after Holiness should completely renounce everything wrong or doubtful."

quoted from a Old Doctrine Book from the Salvation Army.
This is a wonderful post, sadly the vast majority of Christians have no idea what being separate means, or coming out from among them. Lately my family has decided to get rid of worldly products, movies etc, that usually have a negative spiritual influence on our walks.

[holo]

Yeah, just saying "separate" is not very percise and can be misleading.
More specificially, we are called to be in the world, but not of it.Actually, I believe Jesus said that "you are in the world, but not of it..." - being alien to this world isn't something we achieve, it's just who we are already :)

[Nadiine]

Actually, I believe Jesus said that "you are in the world, but not of it..." - being alien to this world isn't something we achieve, it's just who we are already :)
right. We're sanctified - "set apart".

2Cr 6:17 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2Cr/2Cr006.html#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,

Greek for Separate:

1) to mark off from others by boundaries, to limit, to separate
a) in a bad sense: to exclude as disreputable b) in a good sense: to appoint, set apart for some purpose

We ARE separate, just not to separate ourselves from all humanity -wrongful separation is pride. Rightful separation is to be holy & righteous before God when others will not.

[FreetoSmile]

Amen! Free of the world's influence and imparting God's influence!

[writeinvest]

I think it is really important for Christians to have a good support network with other Christians. Human nature yearns to 'fit in' and because we are called to be seperate and act in a Christ like manner which makes us stand out and not fit in with our non-beleiving friends and associates, it is vitally important that we do have the opportunity within our Christian brotherhood/sisterhood to feel accepted and nurtured and encouraged.

[skater9269]

i agree with Catherineanne

[MarkEvan]

Knowing a little about William Booth I can say that in no way did he separate himself from the world physically, he did however as Amisk has said, separate himself both in conduct and spirituality, but this did not stop him being a true light that pointed to Christ, he did not "hide his lamp under a bushell," but put it on a stand that all could see it.

This man IMO is someone we should all look to as someone who showed "faith working through love."

Mark :)