Called to be Different

  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

 2 Corinthians 6:17

  I have often heard this verse taken out of context from the pulpit over the years. It has been used to dictate minutia regarding appearances and lifestyle. Some have even taken this as living in almost complete isolation from the world as much as possible. This is often taught in a manner akin to legalism, which places faith in actions rather than the finished work of Christ on the cross. In learning what legalism is, my fleshly reaction was to bounce in the opposite direction from that teaching as a young adult. That was equally in error. I pray that I am slowly understanding more of what God was saying through Paul to the church of Corinth. 

   First, it is always important to understand the context of any verse that is being studied.  Paul was calling the believers of Corinth to separate themselves from the idol worship that was rampant in their city. Paul used the words of the prophet Isaiah who called Israel to get rid of the idol worshipping ways they had picked up in Egypt. It was a similar situation to the one that the church in Corinth found themselves. The call was to separate themselves from the sin around them. They were not to blend in with that blasphemous culture. 

   So, does that mean that this verse has no application to us today? Of course it does! We, too, find ourselves in a culture that is filled with idolatry and sexual immorality. These words apply as much to us as to the audience to which Paul was speaking. 

Looking back just a couple verses, Paul calls believers to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.  We use this often to refer to marriages between a believer and non-believers -- and well we should. This refers to more than marriage, however.  It refers to business relationships, or even close friendships. It is clear from 2 Corinthians chapter 6 that a Christ-follower cannot be linked with an idolater or sexually immoral person in any manner. We are called to be different!

  Paul does not dictate how your dress is to be in this passage.  He does not tell you what your lifestyle should look like. His call is simple:  You are a Christ-follower.  You bear the name of Christ.  You must be distinct from the sinful, wicked world around you.  Don't link yourselves with them in any way, shape or form!

 Does this mean that your dress doesn't matter? Does this mean that this has no bearing on how you live? It actually has a lot to do with this.  Paul is actually calling us to a very high standard. Out of a desire to represent our Lord, we should think about every aspect of our lives. Do our lives look different from the world around us?  Can others tell that we bear the name of Jesus by the way we dress, the places we go, the way we talk, and who we associate with? 

 This goes far beyond just appearances.  If our hearts are not responding to this call out of obedience, we are likely basing our salvation in these works. If we are responding in submission and obedience, we will joyfully choose to represent our Savior. 

So yes! We are called to live countercultural lives. We are to be distinctly Christ-followers. May we respond to this call with hearts of love and obedience to the one who gave everything to save us from the grips of sin and death. We are blessed to represent HIS LIFE to the world around us.  He promises His blessing when we respond in obedience!

Heather Sparks