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THE COMMAND TO SEPARATE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
Deuteronomy 7:1-11
 
“And be not conformed
to this world …”
 
THE COMMAND TO SEPARATE
 
Separation is not an option but a command. This is evidenced by the five commands in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1:
 
1. “Be ye not unequally yoked” (6:14)
 
2. “Come out from among them” (6:17a)
 
3. “Be ye separate” (6:17b)
 
4. “Touch not the unclean thing” (6:17c)
 
5. “Let us cleanse ourselves” (7:1)
 
The command to not be unequally yoked derives its picture from an Old Testament legislation. “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together” (Deut 22:9-10).
 
Why did God forbid any mixing of seeds for sowing or animals for ploughing? The reason lies not in the seeds or the animals. Rather, the statutes serve as a pictorial lesson to the children of Israel that they must remain separate from the nations around them (cf. Deut 7:1-11). They are not to worship their gods, neither are they to engage in their ungodly ways.
 
On the other hand, separation from unbelievers does not equate to isolationism. In John 17:15, Christ said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Christ was referring to how believers should be separate from the world’s system and philosophy, yet continue to witness to those who are in the world.
 
In application, a church must fulfil her evangelistic duty to reach out to the lost. At the same time, she must also take care not to bring into the church any worldly philosophies or practices. The church which does so will surely die.
 
THOUGHT: A believer must not join in marriage with an unbeliever.
PRAYER: Father, teach me what it means to be separated unto Thee.

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