TRUE SEPARATION IS WARM DEDICATION. 2nd Corinthians 6:11-18 The trials of the Gospel that are associated with the ministry of reconciliation are not surprising. To confront evil with truth will cause animosity and anger on the part of those who love and live in sin. The true minister of the Gospel; the characteristics of one who carries out the ministry of reconciliation with dedication and commitment, cannot be hidden. There will be honor given to such a person by those who respond in faith to Christ, and dishonor by those who reject the light the ministry of reconciliation brings. This may come even from those who know what is right but want to blend in with the world system and the people around them.
This attitude did not close the mind and heart of Paul and those with him toward the Corinthian believers who were critical of the work they were doing. The heart of the apostle was still opened to them with love, and they did not withhold their affection from those cold-hearted Christians. When he "opened his mouth," he frankly expressed the thoughts of his heart even more than before. Paul’s openness and sincerity formed a relationship of fellowship with the Corinthians that is a lesson to us. Openness removes barriers and helps to avoid potential hindrances to fellowship and provides a basis for reconciliation when it is needed. Paul’s openness dealt effectively with the false apostles who tried to create barriers between Paul and the Corinthians.
Love says what needs to be said in a way that effectively removes any doubt or second-guessing. It is not a sign of "lovelessness" when one seeks to correct what is wrong in those he genuinely cares for. Love does not let wrong go on to its terrible end. In love, one realizes the consequences another person is facing and of which one is unaware, and seeks to change any behavior or attitude that allows this to continue unchecked. This may not be appreciated at first by those whom we are seeking to help. Resentment by those of self-will may often be expressed and even lead some who resist the truth to walk away from it in anger.
The Corinthians narrowed down and restricted their affection toward those who brought them the Gospel and sought to guide them in the ways of God. Those believers should have made a large place in their hearts for those who truly cared for them. The yoking together of believers at Corinth with false teachers was destroying the harmony and fellowship that unites those who are one in Christ.
When we make room for competing forces in our lives, our fellowship with God and His people is dampened. If we allow such things a place in our lives, God cannot act toward us as a Father who is wanting to enjoy warm fellowship with His sons and daughters. Alliances formed with unbelievers will hinder their love for the children of God who truly care for them and do not want them to lose the joy and fellowship of those who are committed to God and the ministry of reconciliation. We have been reconciled to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and declared righteous because of His grace to us. Our separation unto Him means that we are not to have close relationships with those who are alienated from Him. God is holy and dwells among those He has justly declared holy.
"Yoked together" has in view a scene from the Old Testament prohibitions of an ox and ass plowing together. To yoke two different species of animals together is not only not a proper fit, but it is cruel to each animal whose characteristics are very different. Two oxen can soon match their strides and actually move their feet in unison as they lean into the yoke. There is "affinity" there. Two donkeys or two mules or horses working at the same job harnessed together can soon match their strengths to more than double the desired result. The challenge of service is not restricted, but rather enhanced when the guidelines referred to in this chapter are adhered to. Affection and service become stronger by the yoking of equals who witness, work, and worship in harmony and fellowship. Narrowing does not mean weakening. It is placing power under control - the control of divine intention.
Association with unbelievers restricts rather than enlarges the work of those involved in the ministry of reconciliation. Wrong people will not make a business; a fellowship of some kind; a marriage or a religious enterprise go better. One person who is not in agreement with one hundred who agree can hinder the efforts of them all. Binding relationships that are not based on scriptural principles, will weaken our Christian commitment, integrity, and standards. To make the aims of unbelievers suit those of believers in Christ is impossible. Mismatches make it impossible to effectively be involved in building the kingdom of God.
The compromising of character and the integrity of a Christian's life soon blurs even the basic Christian testimony, and will ultimately destroy the distinctiveness of that person's Christian living. Soon there will be no difference seen between the believer and unbeliever. A non-Christian cannot put on Christian characteristics for very long because he does not have the new nature God gives when a person is saved. That person does not have the Holy Spirit within and has no power over sin. On the other hand, a true Christian who does not keep in fellowship with God can soon revert to the way they were before God in grace, saved them. They are not yet exempt from the attraction of sin when attacked by the world, the flesh, and the devil.
There is quite a variety of binding connections to which we can be quickly linked. Business connections bind us when we begin to think in materialistic terms of profit and loss only. There are social groups that bind people with common interests to each other. Social activities also will claim our interests and soon make them equal to or more important than the activities of a local assembly. When two people marry, they are bound for life. The things that interest and affect one will do the same for another person. Church fellowship has a very strong influence on our personal fellowship with God. Any affinity that is formed between people who have contrasting opinions and commitments in these areas, can make our hearts and minds like the world and stops our public testimony to the truth of God.
The first of the five contrasts listed, "righteousness with unrighteousness," affects our witness. Commercial interests that are formed in business, bind us to the one who is morally the weakest in the yoke. Very seldom do those who compromise in business, ever rise to the commitment to absolute integrity that is expected of a child of God. The Christian yoked in this way is actually one who is a defector from the commitment needed to be a reconciler. In business, we share in common (fellowship) the good and bad of the partners and equal associates. There are similar consequences when light and darkness try to blend. Political connections bind us to the practices of the majority. Communion or effective unity depends on each one in that affinity adapting to the accepted practices of the whole group to provide a "united front." This defection from the intended integrity of an individual that is expected of one engaged in the ministry of reconciliation negates their witness almost entirely because it represents the world instead of the kingdom of God.
Social groups have a great attraction today for people who feel isolated and alone in cities. Much of that attraction is based on what is going on socially around us and is controlled by the god of this world. Christ and Belial (Satan: vile, wicked, destructive) have nothing at all in common. There is discord, and disharmony when the music, the entertainment, the social appeal of the devil and his followers would try to mix with the things of God. The believer who would seek to do the ministry of reconciliation in a way that appeals to the devil is already defeated.
In marriage, there is the uniting of three parts of one human being with another with the purpose of two becoming one. The physical union has no real meaning without the union of both the soul and spirit of each. To a certain extent, there can be a "soulish" sharing if one is willing to compromise what he or she really wants. But the spirit of the unbeliever is dead, and the spirit of the believer has been made alive by the grace of God. The whole-hearted, whole-person union desired in marriage is impossible if one is a child of God and the other is not. Often such marriages are lived in disillusionment or end in defeat and defilement.
That same result comes when a religious agreement is attempted between the temple of God and idols. This is impossible. There are even different definitions of worship these days so now the verbiage is the same but the meanings are different. To many a "worship leader" is one who leads the singing in a gathering. To the "temple of God," worship is an attitude that leads to expression, often in very few spoken words, or even the silence of awe. To try to find common ground between the temple of God and idols is like trying to link life and death. The only thing they have in common is the length of their separation. To those who are involved in religion, the church is the building they go to, or something they do, as in "do church." To those who are the "temple of God," church is who we are - the "called out" people of God.
We are to maintain our witness for Christ in this world, but are not to be locked into any kind of bondage or relationship that compromises the body of truth we represent, "the faith." Nor are we to try to adapt our personal faith in God to anything that would divide our loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ or contaminate our personal allegiance to Him. Our commitment and obedience to God are fundamental to our fellowship with Him, and dedication to Him.
Ambition, emotion, and attraction to the wrong things can quickly control us and erode our dedication to the ministry of reconciliation. Separation is not just keeping a distance from sinful practices that compromise our lives. We are separated unto God and for God. It is important that we keep our distance from sin and draw close to our God. We are here in the world to represent Him in our ministry. Our behavior reflects on God. But separation unto Him also makes it possible for Him to act as a Father to us when we are obedient and unique sons and daughters. Imagine, sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty!!
Some things were just never intended to be mixed. Broken steel cannot be fixed with wood and twine. Sun and darkness, day and night are not able to function fully in the twilight. Up and down has to be either one or the other. A magnet doesn’t attract wood shavings. Righteousness and lawlessness have no common ground. Water and oil don't either attract the other. Grey is only a dull bland mixture of white and black. Political parties are mainly known for their differences. For believers to accommodate the world system is defection from the purposes of the kingdom of God. To try to form a union between the two only creates poison. There is no concord, no harmonious union between Christ and Satan, or those mixing communion of religion with the Lord’s Supper.
In and out is to travel in opposite directions. A lie and truth have totally different moral standards. One who believes in the Lord and one who does not may have some things they share, but in basics have no common ground. Defeat and despair may follow hard on the track of those who compromise the truth. To appeal to the religious flesh and/or man's basest nature defiles one's worship now, and shortchanges their future.