Bro. Dave, I like the wisdom you have demonstrated here...it has much less potential for "running people off". It acknowledges that people are not mindless robots (or we hope not), but are able to think things through for themselves - if presented properly.

I feel the "accumulated knowledge and experience" is very valuable and should not be set aside as "unscriptural". Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. (This is scriptural - Pro 20:5) I don't claim to be the man of understanding, nor am I an island, but I do understand this - there is wisdom in the hearts of my brethren – if I can "draw it out".

Also, Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Pro 27:17). I have recognized that my axe sure needed sharpening ;-). This is one reason I have stayed out of the input for so long, to sit on the side and observe the discussion among brethren. Some have "stuck their necks out" to express their view…to the point that some outside the discussion have referred to it as “hot pants” ;-), but it has kept the topic from dying in infancy and all have demonstrated respect and Christian character.

I, for one, intend to make use of the accumulated input we have so far...and what I hope keeps coming. Who knows, maybe you and the other elders at Carlisle can host a "Short Pants" conference where we can all come dressed in Payne Stewart knickers and our legs covered with brightly colored stockings. This should appease everyone! LOL!

More later - hopefully.

Hey Tim.  Kind of an old thread, but I'll bite.  You wrote:

True holiness is being "separated," but separated from what? (the world); which application is more like the likeness of the world and which is a standard that separates God's church?

I think our motivations are very important to God -- even more than our actions.  I don't think our motivation should be to be different.  Our motivation should be to be Godly.  And, of course, being Godly will bring separation from the world in many areas of life, but not in everything.  If all the world wore red shirts, I don't think we should say "Red shirts are worldly, so we will wear blue shirts."

The same man wrote both of these passages:

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

1 Cor 9:20-22  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. {20} And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; {21} To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. {22} To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

And I'm not so sure that separation is necessarily something to be "desired".  Righteousness is to be desired, though.  I would think that separation from the world is more like an unfortunate thing brought about by the world's sinfulness.  Actually, from God's point of view, it is the world that is separated from Him, not us.

Food for thought.

Amen.

Tim Oldani said:

Hello Brother,

I don't advocate for any individual to be separated from the world merely to be different, [...]