Separation vs. Trying to Reach Out?

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selenah

Guest
#1
The Bible says we are to be separate from the world; yet it also says to reach out to the world. How should these two ideas be balanced?

Sometimes I wish I could get away from this world and only be around Christians to avoid all the outside pressures to do wrong. Should I be feeling this way, or should I be more willing to reach out and help others?
 
D

Deadflesh

Guest
#2
Ever hear the phrase "Be IN the world, but not OF the world"?

That exact phrase is not in the Bible, but the idea is biblical. We cant come out of the world, Jesus doenst even want us to come OUT of it, he wants us to be a LIGHT IN IT. How can we be a light to those who dont beleive if we are hiding our light under a bushel?

The way to avoid the pressures of doing sin, and un righteousness...is to PRAY. Spend as much time with Jesus as possible. And no matter what hard tiem you go through just keep seeking HIM, adn keep your eyes on HIM. HE will direct your path, if you are obedient.

Dont do the thigns of the World,To many Christians do the thigns of the World and think that God is fine with all of it. He isnt. But also dont stay away from the world either, they need to see how a TRUE Christian is. Being a peculiar person, walking in righteousness, yet still being loving and gentle, yet firm and hard agaisnt Sin. We are to immitate God, and OUR GOD is the most patient and the MOST Gentle, and compassionate...but he also HATES Sin. We need to immitate HIM. JESUS hung out with sinners, NOT people who called themselves followers of God, who still sined, but WORLDLY people who sinned. Jesus didnt aprove of the Sin. But he showed them LOVE. However LOVE isnt always Nice sweet talk. Sometimes Love is tellign someone that they are on the Road to Hell and need to repent.

Anyway, Selena, Keep Seeking MORE of Jesus. Never stop, and never let anyone or anythign take your eyes of Of JESUS. Jesus is all that matters. Keep seeking HIM and HE will direct your path. it is HIM all the way. Jesus bless you
 
E

EverlastingChange

Guest
#3
Jesus spent his time with the worst of people, yet was never like them. He was with prostitutes, but was never a prostitute. He was with drunkards, but never a drunkard. He was with tax collectors, but never a tax collector. In fact he spent so much time with these people, he actually had a reputation for it and was thought to be all these things himself. Hence the fuss the Pharisee's etc would hold about it. It's not wrong being with these people, often at school or whatever we don't have the choice. But we can always make the most of situations. Challenge people. Ask them why they spend all their time and money on things that cannot satisfy them? And exalt Christ. Be an example in speech, life, love faith and in purity. Reflect Christ and surely they will be drawn to you, for you are that fragile clay jar, with a treasure that they do not have themselves. And the best part is, that treasure you contain is free.

You're not wrong in feeling that way. I think we all feel it sometimes. But you have to remember if we are in need of a break, it's a break from the world we need and not God. So yes it's always a benefit to spend a weekend or so out of town with some fellow Christians. But I think a good majority if that time should also be spent praying over each other and fellowshipping with each other for that refreshing and somewhat preperation for going back into the world, and to be a light in the uttermost darkness that Jesus was, and also calls you to be.

May God's grace be with you :).
 
C

Crazy4GODword

Guest
#4
Well to simplify it...
To separate means avoid their nature and how they act and not be like them
And to reach means help them turn from sin and find Jesus, teach them the truth. (this is the great commission)

God bless
 
May 18, 2011
1,815
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#5
The Bible says we are to be separate from the world; yet it also says to reach out to the world. How should these two ideas be balanced?

Sometimes I wish I could get away from this world and only be around Christians to avoid all the outside pressures to do wrong. Should I be feeling this way, or should I be more willing to reach out and help others?
Selenah, my 2 cents worth, to seperate from the world, I'm sure you know is to not be involved in the worldlyness around you, i.e. parties, the kind of movies and concerts that are perverse and or just garbage etc. When we want to do something or go some where, we have to truly ask ourselves, " Could I really see Jesus going there, or watching this or listening to this?" That's being seperate from the world. But reaching out to the world is for the purpose of witnessing to those who are lost, without being involved in their sin. It is normal to want to just be with believers. For you though Selenah, you're still at an age of being molded by God into the Godly woman He wants you to become. If God wants you to do something for Him, it's going to happen in a way that you'll know God's hand was in it. It won't be from you making it happen. I encourage you to focus on studying His word with zeal and fire. To seek Him constantly in prayer. Jeremiah 29:13. Try not to let these other things overwhelm you, that's just the devil trying to wear you down. Remember God promises to never allow us to be put through more than we can handle. Shalom
 
A

AnandaHya

Guest
#6
The Bible says we are to be separate from the world; yet it also says to reach out to the world. How should these two ideas be balanced?

Sometimes I wish I could get away from this world and only be around Christians to avoid all the outside pressures to do wrong. Should I be feeling this way, or should I be more willing to reach out and help others?
sometimes you have to shield yourself from the world and take a break from negative pressures to grow and become stronger in God so that you can then reach out and help others. first you have to be firmly rooted in your faith and be able to resist temptations the world may try and use to lure you away from God.

getting away from the world and being around true Christians might be a good idea for you for a while. just focus on God and learning God's Word and will for your life and do as God directs you. Trust, have faith, it will be ok.

Reach out to the Christians around you, they need an encouraging word or help just as much as people who are not Christians. as you yourself know, christians get discouraged and having another person show they care enough to take the time to listen really makes a difference. if nothing else you can listen and learn. :)

May God bless you.
 
S

selenah

Guest
#7
What about other teens who aren't Christians? Most of the kids where I live i.e. most of my friends that I have are not Christians. I want to reach out to them and be there for them, but some of the stuff that they do is terrible. I'm always being pressured to do wrong things. I don't want to dump them and not be their friend, but I also don't want to get pressured into doing something wrong.
 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#8
Jesus spent his time with the worst of people, yet was never like them. He was with prostitutes, but was never a prostitute. He was with drunkards, but never a drunkard. He was with tax collectors, but never a tax collector. In fact he spent so much time with these people, he actually had a reputation for it and was thought to be all these things himself. Hence the fuss the Pharisee's etc would hold about it. It's not wrong being with these people, often at school or whatever we don't have the choice. But we can always make the most of situations. Challenge people. Ask them why they spend all their time and money on things that cannot satisfy them? And exalt Christ. Be an example in speech, life, love faith and in purity. Reflect Christ and surely they will be drawn to you, for you are that fragile clay jar, with a treasure that they do not have themselves. And the best part is, that treasure you contain is free.

You're not wrong in feeling that way. I think we all feel it sometimes. But you have to remember if we are in need of a break, it's a break from the world we need and not God. So yes it's always a benefit to spend a weekend or so out of town with some fellow Christians. But I think a good majority if that time should also be spent praying over each other and fellowshipping with each other for that refreshing and somewhat preperation for going back into the world, and to be a light in the uttermost darkness that Jesus was, and also calls you to be.

May God's grace be with you :).
awesome post.
thanks.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#9
The Bible says we are to be separate from the world; yet it also says to reach out to the world. How should these two ideas be balanced?

Sometimes I wish I could get away from this world and only be around Christians to avoid all the outside pressures to do wrong. Should I be feeling this way, or should I be more willing to reach out and help others?
There is a difference between going out into the world and preaching the Gospel, and becoming intimate friends with people in the world. We aren’t supposed to be intimate friends with the world. They can easily lead us astray.