Christians are supposed to be separated from the world; this post is not arguing that point – instead it is to point out that there is teaching (I don’t know how prevalent it is) about separation that is wrong.

I was taught that Christians are to be separated, so I determined to keep “the world” at an arm’s length (that’s probably a little over two feet). Another person claims he is more separated because he won’t touch “the world” with a 10-foot pole… and 10 feet is more than two-something feet, so that guy is more separated. Then a third guy says that he won’t get within a mile of “the world” — Wow! He’s “really” separated!

But all of this is wrong: separation is not about staying away from the world.

You see, God is unchanging; He is always the same in His character. But the world is changeable; it may make a step or two toward God when it’s fashionable, but it also goes sideways and backward. And, over time, the world is getting farther away from God.

And there’s the problem: if I am determined to stay 10 feet “away” from the world, it just has to move backward 10 feet, and then I am where the world was a little while ago. But I can (truthfully) proclaim that “I am as separated as I ever was” — because I’m still 10 feet away from the world. Thus, you see, it doesn’t matter how far away we keep, we are doomed to fail:

Because… we are keeping our eyes upon the world.

We need to repent of this – literally – and turn around and focus on our unchanging High and Holy God. Our efforts need to be directed at staying close to Him. Then, it is unimportant to us if the world happens to take a step toward godliness or five steps away from God. It just doesn’t matter because are eyes are upon Him.

And THAT is true separation.