Q3. Separation from Sin

[wifee]

3a)Paul calls them to separate from anything that contaminates their body &spirit&leads them away from Christ,whether unhelpful attachmnents or sinful practices.

B)Relating to unbelieving collegues doesn’t mean need to go along with all their behaviours boasting, putting others down,gossiping. We are called to mix with unbelievers, using Godly wisdom &discernment, being salt &light in, our actions as we are set apart, called to holy, blameless&different, but at same time accepting&loving of each person as an individual showing the way to Jesus.,

[Craig]

Q3. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) What kind of separation is Paul calling the Corinthians to? How can they strike a balance between separating themselves from sinful practices that mess up their spiritual lives while at the same time maintaining friendships with pagan neighbors and co-workers?

 

Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to separate themselves from idol worship and sexual immorality and those who would encourage them to engage in those practices.

 

Friendships and associations can be maintained and enjoyed with as long they are not engaged in sin.  We must separate ourselves from those who would lead us back into the sin and degradation of our former lives.

 

 

[royk]

Q3. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) What kind of separation is Paul calling the Corinthians to? How can they strike a balance between separating themselves from sinful practices that mess up their spiritual lives while at the same time maintaining friendships with pagan neighbors and co-workers?

 

 

We must follow the mode of Jesus our savior, be in the world but not of the world. Much prayer is needed, and being led by God and not our own wisdom. Pray, obey, test as needed any big decisions with other wise people. Act slowly, speak less, understand deeper. Be a light, be a solution in the darkness

[WinstonY]

Paul is speaking of ' brothers who is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolaters or a slander. With these do not eat'.

We are to befriend all people but do participate in their practices with them. Maybe we can influence them.

[lighthouse2014]

Q3. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) What kind of separation is Paul calling the Corinthians to? How can they strike a balance between separating themselves from sinful practices that mess up their spiritual lives while at the same time maintaining friendships with pagan neighbors and co-workers?

The kind of separation that Paul is calling the Corinthians to do is separate from those believers and unbelievers who would drag us back into sinning again. To separate ourselves from those believers who are still involved in sexual immorality and idol worship. These believers are nclean and do not live a holy life that is worthy of God, who is holy.

To strike a balance between separating ourselves from sinful practice and maintaining friendships with pagans, neighbors and co-workers, is to avoid being around them when they are sinning. We can maintain good friendship with pagans because we do live around them and perhaps our influence can bring them to Christ. But, if they go out and sin we should not participate with them, least we be tempted and sin.    

[Krissi]

We all have weaknesses or tendencies to sin in particular areas from which we should flee ... fast! The old adage that money, sex or power, or a combo of the three will be our downfall does not have to happen if we separate ourselves from whatever tempts us, or could potentially tempt us. 

Having said this, I don't think Paul is telling us to separate ONLY from the things that could ensnare us. He's making a more generic statement, that Christians should separate themselves from the dominant culture/politics thus retaining a separate identity apart from them. We're supposed to be different. Substantially not superficially.

It's very easy to be pigeon-holed by secular people into categories that don't well define us -- "Republican/Democrat", for one. This allows them to side-step our faith which should be our primary identity. We must not let them do this to us.

Secular people are all around us, increasingly so. We can't live in society, or even in our own families, without encountering them. But we can set boundaries for these encounters to protect us from slippage. We can maintain limited friendships with some seculars and should probably do so as evangelism can't happen without contact.

It's not so much a balance as it is knowing the limit's of one's own spiritual maturity.