A SEPARATE PEOPLE
GOD designed that His children in every age should he a peculiar people. He established His church to do a distinctive work, separate from every other organization in the world. It was His design that the members of His church should stand forth as lights in the world, as ambassadors of heaven to those who knew not God. This principle is enunciated by the prophet of the Lord, who was called by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel.
“How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:8, 9.
The children of God are actuated by purposes different from those of the people of the world. They labor from different motives. In the very nature of the case they could not be reckoned among the nations of earth. They must stand separate and alone.
This was the call extended to Abraham, the father of the faithful. He was asked to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house, to go into a strange land and among strange peoples as God’s light bearer. Throughout his sojourn in the land of Canaan he maintained this separate character, and this separate, distinctive existence was enjoined upon his descendants.
The Israelites were faithfully admonished not to form any affiliation or partnership with their neighbors in Canaan. They were not to permit their sons and daughters to marry unbelievers; they were not to how down to other gods, but were to maintain the holy character and exalted position to which God had called them. (Deuteronomy 7:1-6.)
The New Testament Scriptures abound with many statements of these principles. The burden of Christ’s prayer, as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John, was that while His followers were left in the world they should be kept free from worldly contamination and worldly influences.
The apostles enunciated this principle over and over. In the writings of John, Peter, James, and Paul the church is warned against worldly affiliations. In reviewing the history of the church we see that wherever this plain instruction was disregarded and the principle of complete separation violated, apostasy from the truth and departure from God were the inevitable results.
Balaam’s Deception
Powerless to utter the curse which his covetous heart had framed against Israel, Balaam sought by more subtle methods to obtain the rich reward offered by Balak, and to bring upon Israel the displeasure of God. He recommended that Israel he invited to witness the sports and attend the feasts of the Moabites. He himself as a professed servant of the Lord lent his personal influence to secure their attendance.
His wicked scheme succeeded all too well. Hundreds from the camp of Israel were beguiled into the snare. They mingled with their heathen neighbors; they attended their feasts. In consequence they became the prey of the seductive wiles of the Moabitish women and sacrificed their integrity of character, going so far finally as to offer sacrifices to the gods of Moab.
The anger of the Lord was kindled against them. The plague broke out in the camp of Israel, and twenty-four thousand were destroyed. It was a costly thing for Israel to forget the place to which God had called them in the world.
In the days of Jehoshaphat we are afforded another striking illustration of the results following disobedience to the instruction of the Lord. Ahab reigned in Samaria over the ten tribes. Jehoshaphat was king at Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat sincerely followed the true God. Ahab, while he recognized the God of heaven, worshiped the gods of the heathen about him. Antagonistic to both kingdoms was Syria, on the north. Against the king of Syria Ahab proclaimed war, and invited Jehoshaphat to join him against their common foe. It seemed a reasonable request, and Jehoshaphat, forgetting the distinctive place to which God had called him and the kingdom over which he ruled, “joined affinity with Ahab.” Ahab was slain, and Jehoshaphat barely escaped with his life. As he returned to Jerusalem, Jehu, the prophet, met him and inquired, “Should thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee
from before the Lord!’ 2 Chronicles 19:2.
The king of Judah was not reproved for fighting against Syria. Indeed, Syria was one of the nations which Israel was commanded to exterminate. In joining affinity with Ahab, Jehoshaphat had lost his distinctive character. He was associating with those who knew not God, and for that reason the blessing of Heaven could not attend his efforts.
Ezra Refuses to Compromise
Later, in the days of the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Ezra, some of the people round about Judea, the successors of the ten tribes-who maintained at Samaria a mixed worship, who “feared the Lord, and served their graven images” desired to unite in the work of restoring the temple service. They said, “Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.” Ezra 4:2.
But Zerubbabel and those associated with him in the work were not deceived by these specious representations. They realized that God had called them to do a distinctive work for Him, and in the performance of that work they must stand alone. They returned the answer: “You have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.” Verse 3.
In consequence of this refusal to permit these surrounding nations to make common cause with them, the repairers of the city were subjected for long years to all manner of persecutions, which was continued not alone through the administration of Ezra but reached into that of later generations. By threats, cajolery, and intrigue they sought to form an alliance with Nehemiah. In response to their request for a conference he returned to them this noble answer: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” Nehemiah 6:3.
Like Ezra, he recognized the distinctive character of God’s work, and that in carrying on that work he must stand free from every outside influence and worldly entanglement. God has called His people to occupy a unique place in the world and to do a distinctive work. We are entrusted with a special message for our fellow man. With what spirit should that message be given? On what basis should our work be carried forward? How should we relate ourselves to the various societies and movements which in part may have common interests with us? These surely are questions for earnest consideration. We believe it is well for us to study carefully the principles contained in the scriptures which have been cited.
Love Not the World
The Lord through His prophet declares of His church, “Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:9. He designed that His church should be a separate people, and that they should do a distinctive work. Directly and indirectly Satan has sought to corrupt the church and divert it from the work it was commissioned to do. He has sought to do this directly through corrupting worldly influences which lead to positive sin.
The apostle John bears this warning: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17.
Indirectly the enemy of all righteousness has sought to corrupt the church by leading it to compromise its position in forming affiliations with the world. The evil has not at first been apparent, but the fruits of these affiliations, when persisted in, have proved to be apostasy and separation from God. Against such association the apostle Paul utters a direct warning in the following words:
“Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? Or what part hath he that believes with an infidel? And what greement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and Iwill be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and he you separate, said the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto
you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
In this counsel is emphasized the idea of complete separation. The people of God must live in the world till the coming of the deliverer, but they are not to be of the world; they are not to imbibe its spirit or follow its practices. They are to stand among their fellows as separate and distinct in purpose and in character. Says the apostle Peter, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” 1 Peter 2:9.
In what particulars are the peculiarities of the children of God to he made
manifest? “That you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The apostle Paul bears the same testimony in Titus 2:11-14:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
To their fellows they have been made the ambassadors of the King of heaven, and in their lives they are to represent the principles of the divine government. In their labors for God they can know no man after the flesh. Their mission is to the people of every kindred and nation, of every color and social state. They recognize that “God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feared him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.”
One Gospel for All
The world is divided into classes. Political, social, and religious distinctions are observed. These distinctions cannot be regarded by the ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of every class are afflicted with the same disease-sin. The heralds of the cross are to carry to them the one universal remedy ... salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The people represented in this remnant of His church have been called into existence to do a specific work for this day and generation-a work which no other religious body is attempting or professing to do. There is due the world today a message of warning pertaining to those things which are soon to come upon the earth.
This message is designed as a message of salvation. It warns against the evils and the errors which are threatening the very existence of vital godliness. It calls the inhabitants of the earth to forsake the worship of man for the worship of God; to break from the "thralldom of sin" and accept the liberty that there is in Christ Jesus. It warns against the worship of the beast and his image and against the reception of his mark, against the great combinations of evil which will be formed in antagonism to the truth of God in the last days; and it develops a people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:6-12.)
They cannot give the message from motives of patriotism or expediency. They bear a gospel of love, not of hate; of salvation, not of condemnation; of good will, not of class hatred or distinction. They are to seek to save their fellow man of every class and persuasion. Jew and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic, heathen and Mohammedan. In this work of soul saving they must keep so free from class and party spirit that their message will go unclouded and unencumbered, free and untrammeled, carrying the spirit of love and good will to all men.
Their power in the proclamation of this message will be in direct proportion as they keep out of their lives every corrupting worldly influence, and in proportion as the movement itself maintains its high and holy character distinct and separate from every worldly affiliation.
“How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:8, 9.
The children of God are actuated by purposes different from those of the people of the world. They labor from different motives. In the very nature of the case they could not be reckoned among the nations of earth. They must stand separate and alone.
This was the call extended to Abraham, the father of the faithful. He was asked to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house, to go into a strange land and among strange peoples as God’s light bearer. Throughout his sojourn in the land of Canaan he maintained this separate character, and this separate, distinctive existence was enjoined upon his descendants.
The Israelites were faithfully admonished not to form any affiliation or partnership with their neighbors in Canaan. They were not to permit their sons and daughters to marry unbelievers; they were not to how down to other gods, but were to maintain the holy character and exalted position to which God had called them. (Deuteronomy 7:1-6.)
The New Testament Scriptures abound with many statements of these principles. The burden of Christ’s prayer, as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John, was that while His followers were left in the world they should be kept free from worldly contamination and worldly influences.
The apostles enunciated this principle over and over. In the writings of John, Peter, James, and Paul the church is warned against worldly affiliations. In reviewing the history of the church we see that wherever this plain instruction was disregarded and the principle of complete separation violated, apostasy from the truth and departure from God were the inevitable results.
Balaam’s Deception
Powerless to utter the curse which his covetous heart had framed against Israel, Balaam sought by more subtle methods to obtain the rich reward offered by Balak, and to bring upon Israel the displeasure of God. He recommended that Israel he invited to witness the sports and attend the feasts of the Moabites. He himself as a professed servant of the Lord lent his personal influence to secure their attendance.
His wicked scheme succeeded all too well. Hundreds from the camp of Israel were beguiled into the snare. They mingled with their heathen neighbors; they attended their feasts. In consequence they became the prey of the seductive wiles of the Moabitish women and sacrificed their integrity of character, going so far finally as to offer sacrifices to the gods of Moab.
The anger of the Lord was kindled against them. The plague broke out in the camp of Israel, and twenty-four thousand were destroyed. It was a costly thing for Israel to forget the place to which God had called them in the world.
In the days of Jehoshaphat we are afforded another striking illustration of the results following disobedience to the instruction of the Lord. Ahab reigned in Samaria over the ten tribes. Jehoshaphat was king at Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat sincerely followed the true God. Ahab, while he recognized the God of heaven, worshiped the gods of the heathen about him. Antagonistic to both kingdoms was Syria, on the north. Against the king of Syria Ahab proclaimed war, and invited Jehoshaphat to join him against their common foe. It seemed a reasonable request, and Jehoshaphat, forgetting the distinctive place to which God had called him and the kingdom over which he ruled, “joined affinity with Ahab.” Ahab was slain, and Jehoshaphat barely escaped with his life. As he returned to Jerusalem, Jehu, the prophet, met him and inquired, “Should thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee
from before the Lord!’ 2 Chronicles 19:2.
The king of Judah was not reproved for fighting against Syria. Indeed, Syria was one of the nations which Israel was commanded to exterminate. In joining affinity with Ahab, Jehoshaphat had lost his distinctive character. He was associating with those who knew not God, and for that reason the blessing of Heaven could not attend his efforts.
Ezra Refuses to Compromise
Later, in the days of the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Ezra, some of the people round about Judea, the successors of the ten tribes-who maintained at Samaria a mixed worship, who “feared the Lord, and served their graven images” desired to unite in the work of restoring the temple service. They said, “Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.” Ezra 4:2.
But Zerubbabel and those associated with him in the work were not deceived by these specious representations. They realized that God had called them to do a distinctive work for Him, and in the performance of that work they must stand alone. They returned the answer: “You have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.” Verse 3.
In consequence of this refusal to permit these surrounding nations to make common cause with them, the repairers of the city were subjected for long years to all manner of persecutions, which was continued not alone through the administration of Ezra but reached into that of later generations. By threats, cajolery, and intrigue they sought to form an alliance with Nehemiah. In response to their request for a conference he returned to them this noble answer: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” Nehemiah 6:3.
Like Ezra, he recognized the distinctive character of God’s work, and that in carrying on that work he must stand free from every outside influence and worldly entanglement. God has called His people to occupy a unique place in the world and to do a distinctive work. We are entrusted with a special message for our fellow man. With what spirit should that message be given? On what basis should our work be carried forward? How should we relate ourselves to the various societies and movements which in part may have common interests with us? These surely are questions for earnest consideration. We believe it is well for us to study carefully the principles contained in the scriptures which have been cited.
Love Not the World
The Lord through His prophet declares of His church, “Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:9. He designed that His church should be a separate people, and that they should do a distinctive work. Directly and indirectly Satan has sought to corrupt the church and divert it from the work it was commissioned to do. He has sought to do this directly through corrupting worldly influences which lead to positive sin.
The apostle John bears this warning: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17.
Indirectly the enemy of all righteousness has sought to corrupt the church by leading it to compromise its position in forming affiliations with the world. The evil has not at first been apparent, but the fruits of these affiliations, when persisted in, have proved to be apostasy and separation from God. Against such association the apostle Paul utters a direct warning in the following words:
“Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? Or what part hath he that believes with an infidel? And what greement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and Iwill be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and he you separate, said the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto
you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
In this counsel is emphasized the idea of complete separation. The people of God must live in the world till the coming of the deliverer, but they are not to be of the world; they are not to imbibe its spirit or follow its practices. They are to stand among their fellows as separate and distinct in purpose and in character. Says the apostle Peter, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” 1 Peter 2:9.
In what particulars are the peculiarities of the children of God to he made
manifest? “That you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The apostle Paul bears the same testimony in Titus 2:11-14:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
To their fellows they have been made the ambassadors of the King of heaven, and in their lives they are to represent the principles of the divine government. In their labors for God they can know no man after the flesh. Their mission is to the people of every kindred and nation, of every color and social state. They recognize that “God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feared him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.”
One Gospel for All
The world is divided into classes. Political, social, and religious distinctions are observed. These distinctions cannot be regarded by the ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of every class are afflicted with the same disease-sin. The heralds of the cross are to carry to them the one universal remedy ... salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The people represented in this remnant of His church have been called into existence to do a specific work for this day and generation-a work which no other religious body is attempting or professing to do. There is due the world today a message of warning pertaining to those things which are soon to come upon the earth.
This message is designed as a message of salvation. It warns against the evils and the errors which are threatening the very existence of vital godliness. It calls the inhabitants of the earth to forsake the worship of man for the worship of God; to break from the "thralldom of sin" and accept the liberty that there is in Christ Jesus. It warns against the worship of the beast and his image and against the reception of his mark, against the great combinations of evil which will be formed in antagonism to the truth of God in the last days; and it develops a people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:6-12.)
They cannot give the message from motives of patriotism or expediency. They bear a gospel of love, not of hate; of salvation, not of condemnation; of good will, not of class hatred or distinction. They are to seek to save their fellow man of every class and persuasion. Jew and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic, heathen and Mohammedan. In this work of soul saving they must keep so free from class and party spirit that their message will go unclouded and unencumbered, free and untrammeled, carrying the spirit of love and good will to all men.
Their power in the proclamation of this message will be in direct proportion as they keep out of their lives every corrupting worldly influence, and in proportion as the movement itself maintains its high and holy character distinct and separate from every worldly affiliation.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Sunday, January 15, 2006
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