— To uplift, inform and challenge —

Fellow Soldier,

Having spent much time early on at a monastery, we began our Christian life with a skewed concept of “be ye separate.”  Like many, we thought it entailed a more cloistered, contemplative regimen than actually called for by scripture.  Additional bias derived from commonplace, “thou-shalt-not” pulpits, plus author/teachers with a mystic spin.

Delusions aside, God’s Word clearly and repeatedly calls His own to “come out” and “separate” from the world.  But, what does that actually mean?  Of equal import, what does it NOT mean?  Because the Bible is so insistent on this essential doctrine, we do well to get a solid grip on it. However inadequate this piece, we pray it will help guide you into God’s perfect walk.  Do give us your thoughts on the subject.

The Separated Life

The Lord calls Christians a “peculiar” people.

“Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?  And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? ... Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2Cor 6:14-17a).

Our ‘70s congregation often launched worship with a rousing chorus of 1Peter 2:9:

“For ye are a chosen generation ... a royal priesthood ... an holy nation ... a peculiar people ... to-show-forth-the-praises-of-Him.  Who has called you, out of darkness, out of darkness, out of dARK-ness ... into, His marvelous light ... in-to, His marvelous light.”

Webster defines peculiar as: “characteristic of only one person, group, or thing: distinctively different from the usual or normal.”

Peculiar, NOT strange!

These days, one needs but visit a shopping mall to realize just how “peculiar” people have become.  Distinctive for sure!  But the pierced, painted and barely wrapped muffin look isn’t the kind of peculiar God has in mind.  Although appearances are not the prime issue, they can reveal one’s thinking and values.  It could be said that, out of the abundance of the heart, so one presents themselves to the world.

Similarly, some sectarian/religious groups contrive a distinctive look by way of dress, hair, lack of adornment, liturgical ritual and/or clerical trappings.  Well intending, though still NOT what God means when He calls believers "peculiar" and to be separate.  In fact, these have nothing at all to do with the matter.  At best, they are sincere efforts to please the Lord.  At worst, a facade to deceive oneself and others.

Beyond appearances is the matter of technique; devices many consider as evidence of holiness or separateness.  Though some are useful, prayer and worship methods are also irrelevant (to a point).  Due largely to heretical movements now bombarding the church, various prayer and meditation forms are in vogue (silence, contemplative, breath, etc.).  Popular also are popish candles and icons, pagan drumming, Hinduism’s yoga and mystical methods drawn from medieval monastics.  Such are not signs of holiness or separated living.  In fact, certain of same are ungodly, dangerous and injurious to one’s spiritual health.

Some teach that “separate” means to shun things of the world, especially those bespeaking pleasure or comfort.  To them, being separate is, at least in part, a matter of simple living ... as exemplified by many of our former Lancaster, PA neighbors.  While the more liberal drove black cars with chrome either removed or blackened, conservatives used horse and buggies.  Clothes washers and irons were okay, but only if gasoline powered, while cooking was still by wood stove and kerosene lamps provided lighting.  No movies, TV, CD, VCR or other worldly pleasures are allowed for fear they would compromise a behaviorally separated life.

However well intending, religiously motivated segregation tends to produce mystics, monks, hermits, ascetics and more religiosity.  Lifestyle wholesomeness, asceticism or self abasement simply cannot produce the kind of life God calls us into. No more than can diet, dress, regimen and ritual, or earnestness of the uniformed and bewhiskered, King James-only saints we enjoyed last evening  Yet, He to Whom ALL must one day answer, still ceaselessly entreats: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate!” (2Cor 6:17)

The Separated Heart

Well then; now that we’ve reviewed what peculiar and separate are NOT, just what is it that distinguishes such a one?  You are probably not surprised to hear that it’s a heart condition ... which progressively affects the mind, mouth, grooming, lifestyle, behavior, dress and pleasures.  However, it starts in the heart.  The very wise King Solomon reminds that, as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7).  But, wait; there appears to be a fly in that ointment; a conundrum, because the Bible says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9).  Solomon then asks: “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Prov 20:9).  Clearly, the world of sin inhabits man’s depraved heart.  Woe, woe, woe!  Wretched are we; what now?

Agonizing over his sin, David pleads with God: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps 51:7) — hyssop, being a herb used in purificatory sprinkling rites by the Hebrews.  A similar thought is logged in the NT: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb 10:22).

In one of the Bible’s most glorious passages, God speaks to this vexing heart-sin issue: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.  And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezek 36:25-28).  Here, while prophesying of Israel’s future restoration, the Spirit tells us of the New Birth.  This piece of good news draws tears of relief and joy, praise and thanksgiving.  We’re humbled and crumble at the feet of Jesus.  Get it?!  God is telling us there is victory over sin; that He’s provided remedy for our heart's depravity.  His scribe put it this way: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:14).  Hallelujah!

The separated life

This is what separates us: having a heart purified by the cleansing blood of Jesus and then walking by faith in that newness of life: thought by thought, choice by choice, word by word, action by action, step by step and day after day.  This is the separated life! Friend, the one in whom a blood-washed heart resides is a whole new species of being; a new creature in Christ.  He has been consecrated, dedicated, sanctified, reserved and set apart for the Lord’s exclusive use.  That’s YOU; that’s us ... and every single one who has been born-again; Spirit-baptized into Christ.  “So walk ye in Him!”, exhorts Paul to the Colossians (2:6).

Jesus assures that His Spirit will convict us of sin: “As many as I love, I do convict and chasten; be zealous, then, and reform” (Rev 3:19).  As children of God, we cannot peaceably co-exist with known sin.  If we try, it will conform us to its evil nature.  By the enabling of His indwelling Spirit, we must relentlessly resist, confess and repent of all sin.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9).

Yes, there ARE physical aspects to the holy, separate life. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Ps 1:1).  As His own, there are involvements to avoid, things we dare not do, places we should not go and people we may not make our friends.  We must always ask: “Would I want the Lord to return and find me in THIS situation?”

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith ... abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Col 2:6,7). "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit 2:11-14).  By faith in our eternal Father through His Son Jesus and the Spirit’s enabling, let us therefore live separate unto God in honor of His holiness and love for us.  A-men!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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