A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Being Separate"

It was a large, Christian, two-day conference. There were workshops on a myriad of subjects. We went to a workshop on evangelism first. There we were told that it is imperative to befriend nonbelievers so that we can share Christ with them. Enthused and excited, we made our way to a workshop of Spiritual Growth and Discipleship. There we are forthrightly instructed to come out from the world and be separate. What is a Christian to do? Is it possible to have relationships with nonbelievers and still remain separate from them? Or do we keep living the extremes, cloistering ourselves away so we have no real relationships other than with other Christians or become so much like the world that you cannot tell the difference between saint and sinner?

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 gives us direction with regard to this dilemma. "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."

At first glance this passage seems to speak to only one aspect of the dilemma. It also is often used with respect to Christians marrying non-Christians, so we tend to think of it only in this context. Though it does speak to marriage, it is broader than that. It actually speaks directly to the issue at hand Christians' relationship with nonbelievers. The key to this passage is in concept of being "yoked together."

When in sin we were yoked to sin, bound and going the way of sin. Christ has set us free from the yoke of sin and we have taken on His yoke. (Matthew 11:30) When yoked to something you must go in the same direction as the one you are yoked with. Those who are in Christ are going His way, which is a different way than the world. We are walking in the light, they in darkness. They worship idols. We worship God. They are ruled by self, whereas Jesus is Lord of our lives. We cannot be in fellowship with unbelievers, for fellowship requires a common heart and life. Therefore, Christians are not to yoke themselves to unbelievers. We are not to be in covenant relationships with them. Nonbelievers are not to be our confidants, mentors, or advisors. We are not to be bound to them. In Christ we are separated unto God. "Therefore, come out and be separate."

But, being separate does not preclude having relationships with unbelievers. Being a friend (genuinely loving and caring for another) is not that same as being yoked to someone. Associating with or entertaining unbelievers is not the same as being yoked to them. Granted, there are activities which we Christians cannot join in with nonbelievers, but there are many more which we can. Jesus Himself set the example. We are not taken out of the world. Rather God cleanses the world out of us. That is why and how we are separate. Jesus' own prayer in the garden makes this clear: " My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (John 17:15-18) We are separate from and sent to.

We must not isolate ourselves from the world. Nor are we to assimilate into the world. We are to be yoked to Christ and not yoked with unbelievers. We are to go the way of Christ while loving and caring for those in the world. This is the way of Christ. This is the way of His disciples.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
Return to Devotional Index