JUNE 7, 2010

MEASUREMENT

OF SEPARATION

Scripture Reading - 1 John 2:15-17

We determine biblical separation not by how far I am from the world but by how close I am to God. Unfortunately, many people assume separation carries a negative impact. They fail to understand that the primary goal of separation is not to avoid worldliness but to develop godliness. James 4:8a says, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." Nearness to God produces likeness to God.

One great enemy of godliness is what I call the "invisible yardstick." Churches, schools, and families are quick to declare that they refuse to be worldly. As we hold up the invisible yardstick, we show how far we are from the world. If we don't look like, act like, talk like, and think like the world, then we certainly aren't worldly, right? That way of thinking, however, has one simple flaw.

As time goes by, the world continues to drift farther from God. As the world moves, unfortunately the Church also moves. That's why the Church now stands in places where the world once stood. I'll use an example to prove my point.

Not long ago, many Christian families would have had nothing to do with a Hollywood movie theater. Preachers preached against going to the movies, and Christians simply wouldn't go. Today, some Christian families think nothing of buying or renting the same kind of movies and showing no sense of shame because of the crude and lewd nature of what they are watching.

In our generation, the world is becoming very "churchy," and Church is becoming very worldly. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two. Again, we should determine our spiritually not by how far we are form the world but by how close we are to God.

APPLICATION: First John 2:16 says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride o life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." What do you think "all that is in the world" means?

-Tom Palmer