“BE SEPARATE!”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18                                         (ESV)

“14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

15 What accord has CHRIST with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

16 What agreement has the temple of GOD with idols? For we are the temple of the living GOD; as GOD said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be MY people. 

17 THEREFORE GO OUT FROM THEIR MIDST, and “BE SEPARATE” from them, says the LORD, and touch no unclean thing; THEN I WILL WELCOME YOU, 

18 and I will be a FATHER to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to ME, says the LORD ALMIGHTY."”  

The CHURCH (in growing numbers) is allowing “this world” to commandeer its place to keep the “flock” in line with what Scriptures dictate.  Many so-called Pastors so squeamishly try to not offend big money parishioners in the name of unity that “the salt has lost its savor”, as JESUS spoke about in Matthew 5.  

No longer do a lot of Pastors preach on sin being wrong.  To grow a congregation many Pastors feel that “concessions” must be made to draw people into the fold.  However JESUS says in John 6:44 “NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS THE FATHER WHO SENT ME DRAWS HIM. And I will raise him up on the last day.”  Why is it that some think we can do that which ONLY THE FATHER is able to do, according to JESUS?  Maybe the reason our churches are so Spiritually immature is that we are attempting to do the impossible, to do the work ONLY GOD CAN DO!  

We must remember who we are, and WHO we are NOT!  We CANNOT think we are responsible for getting the mood just right, or contemporary enough, or traditional enough!  We don’t need to have the air conditioning just the right temperature, the lighting bright enough or dark enough, or my favorite, the sound system at the right decibel!  What we do need is the HOLY SPIRIT to visit our churches and do a work that ONLY HE can receive GLORY for!  

In order for the CHURCH to be revitalized we must “BE SEPARATE” from them!  We have to SEPARATE ourselves from the things that “this world” is doing, not try to meet the world halfway.  This message is sure to not set well with some, but it is time that the church “BE SEPARATE” from “this world”!  We can do what “feels right”, or we can do what GOD’S WORD instructs us to do!  “BE SEPARATE!!!”