Be Ye Separate

[LoveisYou]

“Be Ye Separate…..”
I am really trying to figure this one out, and would love some input.
We are to be separate, but is that in actions, deeds, words and associations?
If in associations, then how exactly are we going to win people for God’s Kingdom? How inclusive are we required to be?
I often get annoyed when Christians blatantly exclude non-believers. How are we supposed to reach people if we exclude them? Yet, at the same time I understand there are to be limits on what we are required to do? I don’t expect a Christian to be up in the club all the time trying to win souls as I don’t see how that environment necessarily benefit their spiritual walk (unless they are really there actively engaged in winning souls).
Your thoughts?

 

[Shimmie]

“Be Ye Separate…..”
I am really trying to figure this one out, and would love some input.
We are to be separate, but is that in actions, deeds, words and associations?
If in associations, then how exactly are we going to win people for God’s Kingdom? How inclusive are we required to be?
I often get annoyed when Christians blatantly exclude non-believers. How are we supposed to reach people if we exclude them? Yet, at the same time I understand there are to be limits on what we are required to do? I don’t expect a Christian to be up in the club all the time trying to win souls as I don’t see how that environment necessarily benefit their spiritual walk (unless they are really there actively engaged in winning souls).
Your thoughts?

Good Question...

There is absolutely NO way that we can avoid being around 'unbelievers'. We walk this very same earth, breathe the very same air, eat in the same restaurants, we most surely are not going to avoid going to the bank or supermarkets, simply because an 'unbeliever' is there as well.

We're not going to quit our jobs which is where 'Believers' are almost always out-numbered in most business settings.

However to be separate is to simply continue to grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and to be 'Ready' to witness His love to others when the time and/or the person 'presents itself / theirselves.

There are many things that I simply do not do nor gather myself among those who live certain lifestyles. I don't go to Happy Hour with my co-workers, but I will go to our annual picnics, and other social events which do not compromise my lifestyle as a Christian. The same applies with my family, my friends and in my personal business affairs.

In my office and our associates outside of our office, EVERYONE knows that I am a Christian. Not because I've forced it upon them, they simply 'knew' that I was different and I 'flow' with who I am. People will know this about you as well and God will bring them to you as a witness to His love.

Bottomline: Your footsteps are ordered of the Lord. That's the mindset that I pray and keep each day.

Father God, My footsteps are ordered of you. Whoever you want me to witness to, I am yielded, bring them to me or send me their way.

You'll know where to be and whom to be around ; the Holy Spirit will simply lead you and you will follow His promptings in the same manner that you breathe...which is naturally -- without having to think about it.

You will naturally follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit giving God great pleasure in all that you say and do, bringing others to know and to love Him as you do.

He made the Roses...:Rose: Give one to each person with your smile.

 

[LoveisYou]

Good Question...

There is absolutely NO way that we can avoid being around 'unbelievers'. We walk this very same earth, breathe the very same air, eat in the same restaurants, we most surely are not going to avoid going to the bank or supermarkets, simply because an 'unbeliever' is there as well.

We're not going to quit our jobs which is where 'Believers' are almost always out-numbered in most business settings.

However to be separate is to simply continue to grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and to be 'Ready' to witness His love to others when the time and/or the person 'presents itself / theirselves.

There are many things that I simply do not do nor gather myself among those who live certain lifestyles. I don't go to Happy Hour with my co-workers, but I will go to our annual picnics, and other social events which do not compromise my lifestyle as a Christian. The same applies with my family, my friends and in my personal business affairs.

In my office and our associates outside of our office, EVERYONE knows that I am a Christian. Not because I've forced it upon them, they simply 'knew' that I was different and I 'flow' with who I am. People will know this about you as well and God will bring them to you as a witness to His love.

Bottomline: Your footsteps are ordered of the Lord. That's the mindset that I pray and keep each day.

Father God, My footsteps are ordered of you. Whoever you want me to witness to, I am yielded, bring them to me or send me their way.

You'll know where to be and whom to be around ; the Holy Spirit will simply lead you and you will follow His promptings in the same manner that you breathe...which is naturally -- without having to think about it.

You will naturally follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit giving God great pleasure in all that you say and do, bringing others to know and to love Him as you do.

He made the Roses...:Rose: Give one to each person with your smile.

Thanks so much for your detailed response.

I am going to be ver transparent in my response:

I am beginning to believe I am going through a process where God wants me to be separate. In February of this year I had a very real encounter with God (it couldn't have been more real believe me). For years he have been calling me, but I was being completely disobedient, lukewarm, hard-headed, but thank You Jesus for your mercies.

I am an ex party girl. Almost every weekend I needed to be at some club/lounge dressed to the nines with my girls. After my encounter, I kind of went cold turkey with that lifestyle. I am now back around my old friends, and while I haven't been partying, I've been attending events with them and sometimes the atmosphere reminds me of my old lifestyle to the point where I feel uncomfortable. I am also being convicted about how I dress.

Yet, I have more mature Christians telling me that not because I am saved doesn't mean I can't go certain places or dress a certain way...and I start thinking it's me, it's me being legalistic, me being too rigid.

I guess that's really where my question comes from, how do I know...

 

[Shimmie]

Thanks so much for your detailed response.

I am going to be ver transparent in my response:

I am beginning to believe I am going through a process where God wants me to be separate. In February of this year I had a very real encounter with God (it couldn't have been more real believe me). For years he have been calling me, but I was being completely disobedient, lukewarm, hard-headed, but thank You Jesus for your mercies.

I am an ex party girl. Almost every weekend I needed to be at some club/lounge dressed to the nines with my girls. After my encounter, I kind of went cold turkey with that lifestyle. I am now back around my old friends, and while I haven't been partying, I've been attending events with them and sometimes the atmosphere reminds me of my old lifestyle to the point where I feel uncomfortable. I am also being convicted about how I dress.

Yet, I have more mature Christians telling me that not because I am saved doesn't mean I can't go certain places or dress a certain way...and I start thinking it's me, it's me being legalistic, me being too rigid.

I guess that's really where my question comes from, how do I know...

Okay... I missed this in your post.

Here's wonderful news for you....

You are doing exactly what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. And this is going to be one of the most rewarding and most wonderful experiences that you will have as a Christian.

When a man and wife first marry, they separate from almost everyone because this is their time of getting to know each other as 'One'.

This is what you are entering into, a separate time with the Lord, to know Him, one on one, as One. This is a time with no distractions of the 'former' life and the former things which kept you away from Him, prior. Every Christian goes through this 'new beginning' and you will have several of these 'separations from the others' so that God can minister to you, one on one.

Remember when God called Abraham to come out from among his family?

Remember when Jesus was lead into the 'wilderness' for fasting and prayer for 40 days and 40 nights? Even afterwards, He always went to be 'alone' to be with the Father and pray.

When I first got saved, I was very secluded from my family and friends (except my children, as they were too young for me to isolated from them); but I was 'learning' about my Father and the Lord of my life. I couldn't get enough of reading God's Word; there was no time for TV; no time for 'fun and games' and the other things I used to do.

Love is You... you are following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He is 'wooing' you to come and get to know Him. He is preparing you for the battles to come and they WILL come, however this time you are spending away from your past life and those still in that past, will strengthen you and the trust that you are developing in God. There is nothing like it. God is preparing you also, to be His effective witness; preparing you for those He is calling you to.

Love this moment that you are entering into. Love it for indeed it is proving that Love is You. You are not alienating the human race. God is preparing you to be what He has called you to be for Him and for them.

I hope this helps. I'm trying very hard not to tell my whole life story...

Love these moments of 'alone' time with Jesus. :Rose:

 

[Shimmie]

Let's get some other ladies in here to share with you.

I tried 'tagging' some names, but I don't think I did it right. Not all of the names are showing up. I'm fairly new at 'tagging'.

 

[Laela]

LoveisYou, looks like you already know the answer to that. The Holy Spirit is a stabilitzer and is Who keeps us in balance and going in right direction in EVERYTHING we say/do. We'll know we are doing/going/saying wrong when He convicts us. When we get saved we become "born" again and are new creatures in Christ, so there will be an aversion to the things we used to say/do. The Old Man, who didn't care about God is now more sensitive or in-tuned to what God says.

No matter "how saved" we are, we are still IN the world. The objective is to not be OF it. Joseph was a Godly man, Potipher recognized that in him without Joseph saying anything. Yet, Joseph served Potipher, an ungodly man. That is a good example of humility. And get this, he...Joseph...didn't allow Potipher's wife's 'ways' to corrupt him. He held his ground and stayed true to his God. He was there for a reason... ask yourself, would Joseph go looking for Potipher's wife if he had no cause to be in that house? What would've had been his motive then? That's the difference.

Nothing wrong with having unsaved friends, being around unsaved people or even Christians living ungodly lives. We are to love others and, after all, salvation is a choice. Yet, if any relationship starts to corrupt your spiritual life, instead of your spiritual life having any influence on it, the Holy Spirit will convict. They are usually close relationships that can pull at or even vex your spirit, or cause you to second-guess your God. I believe separation is more about your growth/healing and well-being to be in a place to bring others to Christ, than to be blatantly ex-communicative. The uncleanness has to do with what's within, not what's without. And it's not about those you separate from... it's about YOU and your relationship with God the Father

hth!

 

[LoveisYou]

Thank you both so much for your insightful responses. You both gave me a lot of insight, I will pray for wisdom how to go about finding a balance.