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NASB | 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 6:17 "So COME OUT FROM AMONG UNBELIEVERS AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord, "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], [Is 52:11] |
Bible Question: Based on Paul's admonition here (Isaiah 52:11) how do we find balance in our responsibilities to the kingdoms of this world? We are to be "in the world but not of the world," but we are to "diligently protect our heart" and "focus on the eternal, not the temporal." James (1:27) tells us we have a social responisiblity, yet are to remain unspotted from the world. How do each of you find the balance in your own lives? |
Bible Answer: Doc, John the Baptist had separated from society itself to live in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey, in order to get away from the influences of a carnal society around him. Jesus or Moses would often climb a very tall mountain and pray, which was probably about as secluded as one could get. I almost have to ask if they were not extreme in their disassociations of people at times. They did not merely disassociate themselves from sinners, but from all people as well. (All people are sinners, after all.) My brother will commonly visit an Amish community for a week or two at a time with his wife. A good friend of mine will occasionally take a two-day trip to a monastery, while another friend will go backpacking alone in the woods for a time period. I personally will sometimes seclude myself for days without an active phone, and simply read my bible with fasting and praying. Some may more commonly term such things as a vacation, but I believe that it has deeper significance than that. Simply, the corruptions experienced at the common workplace, interacting with immediate relatives, involvement with in-church schisms, etc. can seem to drain the spiritual life out of us. It's good to take a break. - Conversely, we see people like Jesus, John the Baptist or Moses as very involved with those around them, albeit not all the time. Jesus ate and drank with sinners and also confronted a corrupt religious government, which must have required a great expenditure of energy. Moses was involved with fierce wars and public legal disputes, despite his occasional disappearance upon a mountaintop. John the Baptist confronted a king with the divine message after his hermitlike seclusion. - If balance means avoiding extremes, then I don't find it as very much biblical. However, a common athlete will often fluctuate between opposite extremes of intensified exercise and enhanced relaxation, during different portions of her/his training cycle. Likewise, a Christian soldier will fluctuate between periods of war and solace at appropriate times. The intensity levels are largely equivalent to the maturity developed. When we are weak and drained, it is good to disassociate with sinners altogether. And when we are strong and vibrant, we can share our new life with others all around us. At least, that's how it works for me. :) - Mark 1 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. (NAS95) - Blessings, Reighnskye |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 2 Cor 6:17 | Author | ||
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KingsKid | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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Reighnskye | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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Recamier |