How far 'out'?

[OldWiseGuy]

Christian are counseled to come out of the world, be separate, so as not to be harmed by it. The question is how far out do we come? How much do we avoid or disassociate ourselves from the secular community? Can we 'go in and out' as it suits us without being hypocritical?

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Christian are counseled to come out of the world, be separate, so as not to be harmed by it. The question is how far out do we come? How much do we avoid or disassociate ourselves from the secular community? Can we 'go in and out' as it suits us without being hypocritical?

We come and go, in the world but not of the world, make mistakes and get up and carry on. But once placed as part of the New Jerusalem we will remain forevermore.
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

 

[pdudgeon]

Christian are counseled to come out of the world, be separate, so as not to be harmed by it. The question is how far out do we come? How much do we avoid or disassociate ourselves from the secular community? Can we 'go in and out' as it suits us without being hypocritical?

not as it suits you, but only enter with a clear purpose and stick to it.
At the same time be aware always that you are in hostile territory, and in harm's way. and if you are not received, then leave.

 

[Galatea]

Not to be ascetic, the Bible actually warns against that. Colossians 2:20-23 "Wherefore if ye be dead in Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not, taste not, handle not; which all are to perish with the using) after the comandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

I have a problem with being an ascetic- not in the the world enough to do much of anything. Being in a tower is not good.

As far as being separate, three things (1) do not do anything against the expressed will of God. If you are saved, you ought not to get drunk at the bar every night, for example (2) do not do something that is not against the expressed will of God- but you feel convicted yourself about it. If you think it is sinful to go dancing, don't do it. But if you don't think it is sinful and you enjoy it, then dance. (3) do not do something that might hurt your testimony (avoiding every appearance of evil). For example, I remember a few years ago someone unsaved talking about someone who is a Christian, and seeing them at the casino. The unsaved person was ripping into the person because going to a casino and being a Christian did not compute to him- so he saw the person as a hypocrite. So, since going to a casino is seen as unChristian bevavior in my area, I will not go to hurt my testimony (though I have no convictions about casinos one way or another, and gambling is not addressed in the Bible).

 

[Sheep4Christ]

I thought it meant to not do what "worldly" people do. I mean God created the world for us.It's man who added to the "entertainment value".

 

[SkyWriting]

Christian are counseled to come out of the world, be separate, so as not to be harmed by it. The question is how far out do we come? How much do we avoid or disassociate ourselves from the secular community? Can we 'go in and out' as it suits us without being hypocritical?

Keep a spiritual separation. Jesus came and went as he felt led by the Spirit.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

So it's ok to give to charities that seek to aid those who are victims of the self-inflicted plagues spoken of in the admonition to "come out" so we won't suffer those same plagues, instead of giving to the church i.e. preferring one another?

 

[Galatea]

So it's ok to give to charities that seek to aid those who are victims of the self-inflicted plagues spoken of in the admonition to "come out" so we won't suffer those same plagues, instead of giving to the church i.e. preferring one another?

Confused about what this post means.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Confused about what this post means.

God tells us to come out of the world so we don't suffer their plagues. So should we try to help those plague victims instead of helping our brethren?

 

[Galatea]

God tells us to come out of the world so we don't suffer their plagues. So should we try to help those plague victims instead of helping our brethren?

What Scripture are you referring?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

What Scripture are you referring?

Revelation 18:4

 

[jayem]

I'm not a believer. But I know it's a Christian duty to share the gospel with all people. You must be in the world in order to do that. Remember what Paul wrote:

"To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."

1 Corinthians 9:21-22 (ESV)

Paul isn't saying you must follow follow the ways of the world, but you should be involved. What's wrong with doing good deeds for the fallen, and setting a good example? Isn't that what missions are all about?

 

[Galatea]

Revelation 18:4

That's about the Great Tribulation and how the believing remnant should not be a part of all the madness and evil going on in that day. That has nothing to do with this age.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

That's about the Great Tribulation and how the believing remnant should not be a part of all the madness and evil going on in that day. That has nothing to do with this age.

The madness and evil of our time are so well organized that most don't recognize it. We are actually threatening the very climate by our madness.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I'm not a believer. But I know it's a Christian duty to share the gospel with all people. You must be in the world in order to do that. Remember what Paul wrote:

"To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."

1 Corinthians 9:21-22 (ESV)

Paul isn't saying you must follow follow the ways of the world, but you should be involved. What's wrong with doing good deeds for the fallen, and setting a good example? Isn't that what missions are all about?

We need to "Think Globally, Act Locally" regarding our gospel duties. I'm quite satisfied with my contribution. I even allow myself to be taken advantage of by some from time to time.

 

[Galatea]

The madness and evil of our time are so well organized that most don't recognize it. We are actually threatening the very climate by our madness.

We're not in the Great Tribulation though. If we were, there would be no Christian Forums anymore.

 

[Verv]

There is no shortage of passages talking about how we should not be close to the nature of the world, and that even from among us we must cast out people from among us who do not uphold certain standards.

1 Corinthians 5 states:

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Coming out of the world even means withholding our association from several classifications of people. Of course, as Jaydies says we should still preach the word to them and work for their salvation, but ultimately we are not supposed to actively indulge people who are committing mortal sins very publicly and openly.

This would also imply that we should probably avoid those who advocate all manner of impure entertainment that is orchestrated to sully us, those who advocate homosexuality as equal to heterosexuality and the heterosexual family (this sort of apostasy seems especially nefarious).

 

[Shempster]

2 Tim 2 20,21
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

He is saying that God can use someone who's mind is not filled with ideologies of the world.
In my life I have found that getting involved in worldly things will affect our minds and we are desensitized to it.

Television, politics, music, sports are designed by very intelligent minds with an agenda and proven tactics.
Social media is at the top of the list. It is specifically designed to cause divisions. It happens over opinions but mucks up your head over time. Add to that the fact that social media is literally filled with fake stories. Now you have people believing all sorts of crazy things. A friend was convinced that the govt. was going to haul off Christians to camps and cut their heads off last year. He carries a gun because of fear of being attacked. You can't even reason with him.
Reading books can also be dangerous. When you read a book, you accept the author as a teacher and open your mind to his teachings. All an author needs to do is be properly "tagged" as a Christian and the readers line up.
The "world" basically refers to the SYSTEM that authorities has put in place. Many call this system BABYLON.

I am not saying that these things are inherently wrong, but they do get in your head and you eventually become less open to the spirit of the Father.
For me, I only listen to POSITIVE music. I might peek at the news here and there but I realize its mostly all agenda and opinion. I ignore conspiracy theory stories and political blogs. I only watch a couple old tv shows or good documentaries.

Im not saying that Im all righteous because of my lifestyle, but when others are whooped up in a frenzy over something, I can relax and enjoy peace, contentment and experience Gods divine love.

Try it yourself.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Christian are counseled to come out of the world, be separate, so as not to be harmed by it. The question is how far out do we come? How much do we avoid or disassociate ourselves from the secular community? Can we 'go in and out' as it suits us without being hypocritical?

I'm not Christian but "in and not of the world" to me means you're located in a sinful world (containing rebellion against God in some form or other) but not of it (you reject sin in heart and action) - and also your Kingdom is not of the world but of the next, where your treasures are your heart is also. So you're separated in course of action, habit etc - your actions and associations are more Christianised, but also eschatologically in that youre half way to heaven in terms of spiritual reach, intention, expectation, "fore-having" etc.

 

[Radrook]

Christian are counseled to come out of the world, be separate, so as not to be harmed by it. The question is how far out do we come? How much do we avoid or disassociate ourselves from the secular community? Can we 'go in and out' as it suits us without being hypocritical?

Careful with that. It can be taken to such an extreme where you can become a veritable hermit.