(2 Cor 6:17-18) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, {18} And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
A lost teaching:
The doctrine of separation from the “unclean thing” is lost or ignored by most Christians today. There are few churches that teach or practice Biblical separation. In a technological world and work place, it is not easy to always discern our separation. In the verses of the text Paul is warning about being unequally yoked together with unbelievers and urges us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 6:14; 7:1). Separation is very unpopular today especially with many young people who date, socialize and “become like” the unsaved. Parents do not think it wrong for young girls to date unsaved men or for young men to date unsaved girls. They all think they can convert them to Christianity. While this can happen it is the exception and not the norm.
The unclean thing:
The Bible speaks of “unclean things” in various verses and referring to different matters. Although often times they refer to literal unclean things – things that are dirty, contaminating or actual garbage or waste – they are representative of spiritual uncleanness.
Passages dealing with uncleanness are: Lev 5:1-2; 7:19-21; Deut 23:12-14; Judges 13:3-4; Isa 64:6
Uncleanness that pertains to contamination by reason of germs, bacteria, etc. are types of spiritual uncleanness – pollution as that from evil (Eze 22:7-11; Acts 15:20)
Works of darkness:
Paul tells us to cast off the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph 5:11) which is also involved in living a separated life. In Rom 13:13, 14 Paul tells of some of these works (rioting – half drunken partying; chambering – cohabitation; illicit sexual activities; uncontrolled lust, shamelessness; envying – excitement that leads to rivalry). We are to cast these off and openly rebuke them. We are Christians and should walk as such, not as unbelievers (Eph 4:17-19); Darkness can be the result of denying God when they once knew Him (Ro 1:21, 24, 28) and leads to darkness in life.
A life of separation:
In these days of moral confusion and doubt, with perversions once outlawed by society and now being protected by law, Christians are being pressured to accept them as proper and good. Living a separated life will mean being ridiculed and even persecuted. Our separation may be stricter than others, but what God says to avoid and eliminate, we must do in order to be His children (2 Cor 6:17-18).