ARE WE SEPARATE?


I was visiting a small, country church in Kentucky where a dear Christian Sister actually questioned out loud our “separateness”. She pointed out that we are to be different from the world, and if we are not, then how can the world tell we are Christians? This is a valid question for each of us. We must live and act differently, if we are to be a witness for the Lord. Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord1.


This separateness must begin with the Church. The word “sanctuary” is defined as a place set apart. Does your church and those who gather there reflect a sanctuary from the world, or is it becoming more and more like the world? There are just some questions we should ask ourselves.


  1. If Harry Potter’s adventures are accepted material for the church’s young people, how are we different from the world? 2

  2. If you cannot tell the difference between the music played at a rock concert and the music played in a church, how can the world tell the difference?

  3. If the church has Easter egg hunts (based on the fertility goddess, Ishtar), and a Christmas tree (based on the legend of the pagan god Tammuz), how is this different from the world?

  4. If church members can operate effortlessly on the Internet, but cannot find their way around God’s Word, how are we different from the world?


The church in America is not growing because people see no the difference between the church and the world, so why go there? Ministers, elders and deacons should all examine their church to see if it is separate from the world.3 Those who teach have responsibility and an answer will be required of them.4 But we all must endeavor to be separate from the world. We, too, will give an accounting of our witness.5


If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - Second Chronicles 7:14


May the healing and rededication begin in the Lord’s Church. Please pray for the Church and our land.


1 - Second Corinthians 6:17

2 - Deuteronomy 18:10-12

3 - Romans 12:2

4 - James 3:1

5 - Matthew 16:27


BACK to Lesson Archive.