Separation

“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.“ (Numbers 33:55, ESV)

Here Moses warns the nation that if they do not remove all the inhabitants with their idols and pagan practices, that those nations will cause problems for them in the future. This illustrates a principle for us today, the principle of separation.

The principle of separation is becoming increasingly misunderstood and misapplied in Christian circles today. Our confusion comes from the fact that to be witnesses in the world we must have some sort of relationship with those in the world. The key phrase that ends the confusion is. “Do not compromise.” Do not compromise sound doctrine. Do not compromise ethical and moral standards.

Many Christians and Christian organizations today are sliding down the slippery slope of doctrinal compromise. They are accepting those that hold to doctrines completely contrary to our faith in the guise of cooperation. Their premise for this area of compromise is to send a display of unity to an unsaved world to enhance the church’s ability to reach people with the gospel. How can doctrinal compromise save anyone? This will never work as an evangelistic ploy. What will happen is the degradation of those institutions that compromise. Christians and Christian organizations must “drive out” all false theology or it will become “barbs in” their “eyes” and “thorns in” their “sides.”

The same issue exists with ethical and moral compromise. Many professing believers today are on the road of moral and ethical compromise. They do this to fit in or to establish what they think are meaningful relationships with others. They often use the rationale that standing on your convictions creates a barrier between unbelievers and the church. Can being the same as the world be a witness of a life transformed by the power of the gospel? This will never work as an evangelistic ploy. What will happen? Moral and ethical compromise will become “barbs in” their “eyes” and “thorns in” their “sides.”

Sadly, many so-called churches have taken the lead role in this moral and ethical slide. We have so-called churches today openly ordaining homosexual people into the ministry. We have so-called churches turning their heads to open sin within the membership of their congregations. The result for these churches is spiritual weakness, not evangelism. Their moral and ethical compromise will become “barbs in” their “eyes” and “thorns in” their “sides.”

What is our response? First, we must know the truth. Believers must understand what they believe and then hold to it. Second, believers must hold to biblical convictions of morality and not waver from them. This is only possible by endeavoring to live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Third, churches must set the example for their parishioners in theological and moral integrity. Fourth, believers who find themselves in churches that are compromising should confront their leadership regarding the problem. If the church does not respond they should come out from it and find a church that does not compromise the gospel.