Biblical separation

[missmuffet]

I feel that this is more important than ever in our world today.

Question: "What is biblical separation?"

Answer: Biblical separation is the recognition that God has called believers out of the world and into a personal and corporate purity in the midst of sinful cultures. Biblical separation is usually considered in two areas: personal and ecclesiastical.

Personal separation involves an individual’s commitment to a godly standard of behavior. Daniel practiced personal separatism when he “resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8). His was a biblical separatism because his standard was based on God’s revelation in the Mosaic law.

A modern example of personal separation could be the decision to decline invitations to parties where alcohol is served. Such a decision might be made in order to circumvent temptation (Romans 13:14), to avoid “every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22), or simply to be consistent with a personal conviction (Romans 14:5).

The Bible clearly teaches that the child of God is to be separate from the world. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17; see also 1 Peter 1:14-16).

Ecclesiastical separation involves the decisions of a church concerning its ties to other organizations, based on their theology or practices. Separatism is implied in the very word “church,” which comes from the Greek word ekklesia meaning “a called-out assembly.” In Jesus’ letter to the church of Pergamum, He warned against tolerating those who taught false doctrine (Revelation 2:14-15). The church was to be separate, breaking ties with heresy. A modern example of ecclesiastical separation could be a denomination’s stance against ecumenical alliances which would unite the church with apostates.

Biblical separation does not require Christians to have no contact with unbelievers. Like Jesus, we should befriend the sinner without partaking of the sin (Luke 7:34). Paul expresses a balanced view of separatism: “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10). In other words, we are in the world, but not of it.

We are to be light to the world without allowing the world to diminish our light. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-separation.html

Edited July 7, 2019 by missmuffet

[missmuffet]

Also the born again Christian should make wise media choices. Television and movies has slowly desensitized the Christian to sex and violence. That is the way Satan works. 

[turtletwo]

@missmuffet Thanks so much for posting this important topic. 

[missmuffet]

27 minutes ago, turtletwo said:

@missmuffet Thanks so much for posting this important topic. 

Thank you turtle 

[missmuffet]

[turtletwo]

@missmuffet Renewing our minds is vital in the Christian life. Romans 12:2 is a wonderful scripture. Here is another:

"Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy--dwell on these things."

Philippians 4:8 is a guide God gave us to determine whether or not something is worth thinking upon.

When wondering, we are able to go to this scripture and check anything against it. Asking ourselves each of these questions:

*Is it true? *Is it honorable? *Is it just? *Is it pure and lovely? (that one would rule out many television programs and movies with sex and violence, as you pointed out), *Is it commendable or (as KJV says "of good report?")

The summary is in the last sentence-

*"If there is any moral excellence (KJV says "virtue") 

*If it is praiseworthy (-if there is anything deemed worthy of praise)--

cherish the thought of these things.

I have found it helpful to run things through the filter of this scripture.

 

 

[Who me]

Sometimes it is the little everyday things that make a difference.

Not laughing at that very funny but realy crude joke.

Not listening to, or taking part in the office politics, running down someone because they are not liked.

Total honesty, no little white lies when selling or compromising the truth.

Total accountability with expences to claim what you actually spent and no inflating it or treating friends etc.

 

It means being seen to be different, being willing to be unpopular.

[simplejeff]

20 hours ago, missmuffet said:

I feel that this is more important than ever in our world today.

Question: "What is biblical separation?"

Answer: Biblical separation is the recognition that God has called believers out of the world and into a personal and corporate purity in the midst of sinful cultures. Biblical separation is usually considered in two areas: personal and ecclesiastical.

Personal separation involves an individual’s commitment to a godly standard of behavior. Daniel practiced personal separatism when he “resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8). His was a biblical separatism because his standard was based on God’s revelation in the Mosaic law.

A modern example of personal separation could be the decision to decline invitations to parties where alcohol is served. Such a decision might be made in order to circumvent temptation (Romans 13:14), to avoid “every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22),

Amen.

Avoiding every kind of evil is rare today.   Purity of speech also - avoiding crude jesting,  and speech about things done in darkness that ought not even be discussed among believers because it is not becoming(not right) as disclosed in the New Testament Instructions to believers.  

"Study Bible

Imitators of God
…2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. 3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.…

Berean Study Bible · Download"

 

"Not any kind of impurity,  or of greed.  Nor .... obscenity .....   but rather thanksgiving ...."

 

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Ephesians 5:5
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

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i.e. Instructions to separation,  including having no "unclean speech" .....  improper for believers in Jesus ..... (even to quote from someone else that which is defiling,  unclean,  and an abomination to the Lord)

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Ephesians 5:12
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

 

Exodus 23:13
And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

 

Sexual sins have become commonplace in society - perhaps they always were....  certainly Yahuweh(God) speaks of them in the Old Testament and in the New Testament times ....

Murder also ,  beyond description worldwide,  and gruesome details that ought never be a common topic of discussion among believers (neither in person nor on forums anonymously grieving the spirit).

Greed and oppression are the ways of the world apart from Christ.  

Be separate ,  Be holy,   Be righteous by faith in Jesus Christ as written in the Bible.

Be pure in words,  not defiling others in the assembly with disgusting filthy talk,  rather season all speech with

the pure gentle wisdom from above.

 

[BorderCowboy]

Wonderful topic, this is somethin' we often forget to be vigilant about. Bein' surround'd by a sinful society, we should be always watchin' ourselves and others!

Just my two bits,  JJ

[Neighbor]

Ugh!

I guess all of the above are  indeed a separat-ism. Seems it anyway. Almost as nice  I suppose as what any Hindu or Buddhist or Roman Catholic nun or a Jehovah's Witness or a Latter Day Saint of Jesus Christ might come up with and maybe even engage in. Nothing really distinctive to crave particularly.

And, none of which really amounts to sharing with an unsaved world the gospel of Jesus. Least it doesn't seem it, not to me.

Gad, I do have  hope that  God does not want his people to be a bunch of parlor faced wimps and petti skirts.