Perspective
Believers' Separation
Nelson Thomas Mumbai
In Kerala, south India, certain evangelical Christians are called ‘verpettavar’, which can be translated as ‘separated ones’. More than a century ago, when their forefathers experienced personal salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, they left the traditional ecclesiastical system to follow the New Testament pattern of worship and church life.
Their transformation was not just internal but also very much visible externally. They adopted a distinct lifestyle in every aspect. Simplicity was their hallmark; they avoided all kinds of extravaganza, even forsook ornaments, especially gold, which many in this region passionately hold.
In their zeal to be faithful to the word of God, believing farmers even stopped cultivating betel leaves and areca plants. Their argument was simple: ‘since we don’t use it, we should not grow it to help others not follow the bad habit of ‘pan’ (betel-leaf) chewing.’
They were willing to forsake the economic benefit of cultivating something that was widely used, yet detrimental to public health. Those Christians were zealous in practising the truth of separation in their personal life and business.
Seeing such a detached lifestyle, the common people called them ‘verpettavar’ or ‘separated ones’!
A Confused Generation
But today, many of the present generation of these godly Christians are not bothered about such a separated lifestyle any more. Many do not even know the rationale behind this tag. They are not aware of why they are what they are or why they do what they do! Many just flow with the trend for some time and later become confused, not knowing the meaning of separation or its biblical basis.
Finally, they are compromised, conformed and corrupted, resulting in too many ‘nominal believers’ in the local churches! They have a form of godliness without any substance. Without any hesitation, some take back what their forefathers forsook.
The Importance
In today’s liberal and tolerant culture, the separated life of believers is not very popular. Being influenced by the inclusive mind-set of the post-modern society, many prefer to avoid such topics. But a careful study of the scripture reveals a number of reasons why the followers of Christ must maintain separation as they sojourn in this world. Let us consider a few:
1) The nature of God, Lev. 18: 2, 3
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.”
Notice the instruction to Israelites, ‘not to do like the doings of Egyptians or Canaanites’ because the LORD is their God. The LORD repeatedly reminds them He is a holy God, and His people also should be holy and separated as He is. Apostle Peter also exhorts quoting from the same book, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY”, (1Peter 1:14–16). Our lifestyle and behaviour should reflect who our God is and what His nature is.
2) The work of God, Lev. 20: 26
“And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine”.
In His repeated instructions to Israel to be holy and separated, the Lord refers to His works for them. He has separated them from the people to be His own. Thus, they are obligated to abstain from walking in the ways of Gentiles. Cf. Exo. 6:6, 7; Deut. 7:6; 14:2, etc. Similarly, in the New Testament, separation is an integral part of the work of salvation. For example:
a. Redemption, Eph. 1:7
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” cf. 1Peter 1:18
‘Redemption’ is an important aspect of the work of salvation that God has accomplished through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The meaning of redemption is to purchase a slave from the slave market, bring him out and set him free so that he should never be a slave again.
Not only He has bought us, He brought us out and set us free. Don’t we see separation very clearly underlined in this aspect of salvation? God wants us never to go back to the old slavery of sin and Satan, but to stay separated from the past associations and way of life. Failure in separation is a shame and a contradiction. cf. 2 Peter 2:20–22
b. Sanctification, Hebrews 10:10
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” cf. v. 14
Not only He has redeemed us, He has sanctified us too. He has ‘set us apart’ — separated for God’s purposes. The purpose of saving us out of darkness is that we may be ‘His own special people’, (Cf. 1 Peter 2:9. Hebrews 10:10; Galatians 1:4). It has a practical aspect too, which is an on-going process (1 Thess. 5:23; John 17:17; Eph. 5:26).
So, God’s work in and through us today involves separation. That’s why the first Christian converts left their past associations and joined the apostles (Acts 2:40, 41).
Never forget, it is God who separates us; from darkness to light, death to life, falsehood to truth, ignorance to understanding, etc. (Psa. 4:3; Col 1:12, 13; 1Pet 2:9). We are only maintaining that separated position in doctrine and practice.
3) The commandment of God, Genesis 12:1, 2 – Revelation 18:4
Throughout the Bible, we see the divine call to ‘come out'. God called Abraham and commanded, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” Gen. 12:1. Later, we see the Lord, time and again, reminds the people of Israel to maintain separation (Exo. 23:31-33; Numb. 16:21; Duet. 7:1–7; Isa. 52:11; 2Cor 6:14–17; Eph. 5:11, etc.). God commands His people to be away from the evil practices and lifestyle of the people around them.
4) Example of the godly
Take the story of any godly believer–Biblical or of church history. All of them valued separation and even sacrificed many things to stay true to God’s Word.
When everyone in his generation lived in wickedness, Enoch walked with God, pleased God, and even preached (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5; Jude v. 14). What a challenge it had been for Noah to go against the popular perception and preach about the coming flood (Gen. 6:5, 8, 9 cf. 2:5)! Abraham’s faith life began with separation; he went out not knowing where he was going (Gen. 12:1; Heb. 11:8). Moses by faith forsook the position, possessions, and pleasures of Egypt (Heb. 11:24-26).
Such scores of examples from the scripture as well as history attest the importance of believers’ separation.
5) The blessings of separation, 2Cor 6: 17b, 18
Separated life is costly, at the same time it’s a blessed one. We will have to sacrifice many things. Many may even misinterpret our stand and brand us as ‘fundamentalists’ or even ‘extremists’! Knowing this, soon after the call to come out, God gives the promise, “I will receive you, I will be a FATHER to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters” (2Cor. 6:17b, 18).
It does not mean we become the children of God as a result of separation. He is calling upon His own people. When we maintain separation, we will enjoy the love and affection of our heavenly Father in a very special way. He will be happy to own us as we take a stand for Him and His word. Leaving something for the sake of divine fellowship will be rewarded in due time.
Interesting to notice, soon after Abraham separated from Lot, the LORD made a covenant with Abraham (Gen. 13:14). Later, when Abraham rejected the reward from the King of Sodom, the LORD came close to him and reinforced His care and affection for Abraham (Gen. 14:23; 15:1).
People may call us ‘fools’ or ‘narrow-minded’ for our commitment to the Word of God, but God will honour us. Even He will begin to use us for His purposes in a very special way (2 Tim. 2:21).
Balaam’s observation in Numbers 23 about Israel is noteworthy in this context. He found the separated life of Israel was the reason for his inability to curse them as directed by Balak, the Moabite King. They were blessed, strong, numerous, and victorious (Num. 23:8, 9, 21, 22).
6. Consequences of Compromise, Num. 25:1–3, 9
In spite of the recurring warnings, Israel failed miserably at the tactics of the enemy. Balaam could not curse them but gave Balak a secret to trap them (Num. 23:9; 31:16). Consequently, the Moabite women seduced the young Israeli men and thus destroyed their spiritual separation and holiness (Num. 25:1–9).
The wrath of the Lord kindled against Israel, and twenty-four thousand perished (Num. 24:24). We see such punishments falling upon Israel often, due to their failure in the area of separation.
Samson is the best example of the blessings of separation as well as of compromise. As long as he maintained separation, he was strong and mighty, but the moment he compromised, he lost his strength and the rest we know well (Judg. 16:17ff).
Today, in various ways, the enemy is trying to destroy the separation of God’s people. Many have already fallen. Compromise is taking place in various areas. Satan’s agents are infiltrated among the saints. The number of unconverted, professing Christians is growing.
The line of separation is assaulted from many fronts. Spiritual services became entertaining programs. Social functions like funerals and weddings are controlled by event managers and photographers. Consequently, the strength and the fruitfulness of God’s people are affected.
The Pattern
Our Lord is the best example of spiritual separation. He loved sinners and ate with them, to the extent that Pharisees accused him of being a friend of sinners (Luke 7:36; Mark 6:31; Matt. 11:16-19). Yet the writer of Hebrews says, He is ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners’ (Heb. 7:26).
That is the kind of separation we have to maintain. Living among unbelievers as ‘salt’ and ‘light’, influencing them with taste, protection and light yet not contaminated by the evil around (Matt 5: 13 – 16).
In His intercessory prayer, Christ prayed for believers’ separated life in this world. He says, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14c). There is nothing wrong with enjoying the God-given facilities of this world for His glory and our enjoyment (1Timothy. 6:17). Yet there are limits; certain balance needs to be kept. We must know where to draw the line. We cannot go beyond that limit. If the line of separation is compromised, we fail from God’s purposes and reap the consequences.
Pharisaism
Remember the reasons why Christ rebuked Pharisees who, by their name and lifestyle, proved to be the separated people of the first century. They thought they were godly and obedient people who lived by the law. Yet the Lord Jesus pronounced ‘woes’ against them (Matt. 23:13-16). Their kind of separation was not acceptable to God. They majored in minor matters but neglected major spiritual truths. Pharisaism was characterised by formalism, traditionalism, legalism, exclusivism, antagonism, etc.
If not careful, even today we may fall into this trap in the name of the truth of separation. That’s why we ought to consider this truth seriously, searching scriptures without going to the left or right extremes.
Conclusion:
A holy and separated life is an essential characteristic of a true Christian life. When there is widespread compromise among the so-called saints today, let us stay faithful to the truth of God’s Word. His nature and instructions demand it. Above all, His wonderful work of salvation makes it possible. The world will never recognise us, for it does not know the triune God either.
During this short pilgrim journey, let us keep a safe distance from all that is unscriptural and rejoice to be different, for we are not of this world. Costly it is, but definitely God will honour, bless and use us for His glory. G&P
