Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness? What harmony does Christ have with Satan? What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn’t believe? What agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don’t touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you. I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. My dear friends, since we have these promises, let’s cleanse ourselves from anything that contaminates our body or spirit so that we make our holiness complete in the fear of God. Make room in your hearts for us. We didn’t do anything wrong to anyone. We didn’t ruin anyone. We didn’t take advantage of anyone. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:2, CEB)
I have to say as I started reading this passage I was struck and wondered the book it came from. And then I saw it was authentic Paul.
Righteousness covers that outside the Law and yet we are not subject to the Law. Light shows ud darkness and darkness helps us see the light. Harmony is an interesting choice for Jesus and Satan, and a believer can actually have a lot in common with someone who doesn’t believe. And what exactly are we believing?
We are called to be salt for the earth and a light on a hill. We need to be involved with the lives of those around us to share the light and love of God in everything we do. Now I also see that could mean we are not equal partners with someone who if not a follower of the way of Christ, and yet there are equal partners in many congregations where one or both doesn’t follow the way of Christ.
I was also struck by the fifth to last sentence, “we make our holiness complete in the fear of God.” We make our holiness complete in the fear of God. Is God somethign we shoudl fear? Is the chance we would be sent away from God the reason to make God happy? Are we supposed to only love others because we are afraid of what God will do to us?
God is inhabitating with us and that allows us to be in the world and not of it. Share God’s love as you go and help all see that they are loved.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 