Living Clean in a Dirty World - Part 1

Guest (Male): Becoming a Christian often leads to a radical change in lifestyle, and it's natural to want to share these changes with your unsaved friends. So, how do you be where they are without being corrupted by what they do? Today, on In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley, we'll get some pointers on living clean in a dirty world.
Dr. Charles Stanley: Because the Lord God loves us so much, He always offers us the very best that He has for life. It doesn't make any difference what it is, what situation, circumstance; the best is always offered by God because He's that kind of Father. Sometimes, we turn down His best. Sometimes we think we know what is best. He always knows what's best, and whatever He sends our way is always for our good. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that it's easy to live a Christian life. If someone says to you that living the Christian life is an easy situation, then they have either not read the Word or have not understood what the Christian life is all about. You see, we live in a world of conflict: the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of Satan. As a result, we live in a world that God had made so beautiful, but now it's become a dirty world. It's morally dirty and spiritually dirty. So, what we have to ask is this: is the world going to get better and better and cleaner and cleaner? The answer, scripturally, is no. Then the next question is this: if it's not going to get any cleaner, if it's not going to get any holier, if it's not going to get any better, how do we learn how to live clean in a dirty world? Well, that's what I want to talk about in this passage today because Paul answers this question. The people at Corinth had the same question. They had the same problem we do. They lived in a city and a world that was spiritually and morally dirty, but Paul has an answer for that. I want you to turn, if you will, to 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Beginning in this 14th verse, Paul answers a number of questions here that I think probably many of us have asked and wondered, "What does the Word of God teach about this?" I want to say right up front: listen very carefully so you'll not misunderstand what I'm going to say about two or three things that are very vital here. Paul was writing to a church in Corinth, which was a great metropolitan city, a great commercial city, very wealthy, but known most of all for its temple to Aphrodite, which had a thousand prostitutes. In fact, Corinth was so evil and so wicked and so vile that the saying in that day was to "act like a Corinthian" was to commit sexual immorality. Paul is writing to a people in a city such as that, and so he says, beginning in verse 14 of this sixth chapter:
Guest (Male): Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, who is Satan? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me," says the Lord Almighty. Chapter 7, verse 1: Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Dr. Charles Stanley: Now the question is: how do we live clean in a dirty world? I don't have to tell you, and I wouldn't spend time talking about how dirty it is; we all know that. But how do we live godly? How do we live holy? How do we live clean in a dirty world? Paul gives us, I believe, three steps here, three principles, three things that are so very important. I want you to jot them down. I'm going to ask you about them in a few moments, but the first one is this. When we ask the question "how do we live clean in a dirty world," the basic foundation truth is this: we as believers must recognize that our true nature is different from that of the world. We don't have the same nature that the world has, that is the society in which we live. It's different. When you and I trusted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, Christ came into our life to live. The Bible says He gave us a new nature. Therefore, we are expected to act differently, talk differently than we did before we became a Christian. In this passage, Paul gives us a command. Listen, if you will, to what he says in verse 14: "Do not be bound together with unbelievers." When he says "don't be bound," he means "don't be yoked." Don't be unequally yoked, that is, don't be mismatched with them. One of the first things he's referring to here is when people who are unsaved and people who are saved marry. He says, "Don't marry someone who is an unbeliever." Now, I know that some of you think, "Well now, I'm in love and I know this is God's will, and I've been praying about this thing, and this thing is a settled issue with me." Don't tell me I'm not to marry. I'm just going to tell you what God says, and then you have to decide what you are going to do. But it's a very clear command that believers are not to be bound to, not to be yoked up with, not to be mismatched with unbelievers in the area of marriage. You say, "Well now, I know a couple here and yonder." I wouldn't doubt the fact that you know some folks who have learned how to get along. God says, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers." Now, you don't limit that to marriage because that is a principle. For example, here are two people in business. That scripture applies also in business. You don't link yourself up with, become a partner with someone who is not a Christian. You say, "But this fellow's ethical, he's this, he's that, or she's that or the other." That's not the issue. The issue says God says don't do it. Whenever God gives us a warning, God knows not only the details that we know, but He knows the future consequences of our mistakes. So, the same thing applies to business. Now, this is going to rub some folks the wrong way, so just get set. Neither should we belong to any organization where Christ is belittled, where He is not welcome, where He is brought down from His throne of being deity to being a teacher of something else, and where His lifestyle is strange and unwanted in that organization. We who have a new nature do not fit and ought not to be bound and yoked up in that kind of a circumstance. If what you believe about the Word of God does not match what they believe, if it is a lifestyle in opposition to what you believe and what you practice, then you need to get out. You don't fit there because you and I were given a divine nature. We are different than what we used to be, and we're different from the world. When Paul says, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers," he means exactly what he says. Now, what he does is he asks five rhetorical questions, which means a question that has the answer within itself. What I want you to do is notice these words and then I want you to notice these questions. Look at this. There are five contrasts here. Look at the words he says. First of all, verse 14: "do not be bound or yoked together." Then he speaks about a partnership, then fellowship, then harmony, then having things in common and agreement. All of these are tight words. We're talking about things being linked together. We're talking about some sense of intimacy when he talks about "in common," "bound together," "yoked together," "partnership," "fellowship," "harmony," "in common," and "agreement." Then he asks these questions. He says, "The reason you should not be bound together is very logical." He says, "Look at this: what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?" That is, he says, "How does lawless rebellion, a lawless attitude, and righteousness or right conduct, how do they fit together?" They don't fit together. A society is either lawless or it is righteous. Then he says, "What harmony has Christ and the devil?" He says, "What relationship does Christ have with Satan? They're not friends. They don't mix. They don't fellowship together because they don't match. They have two different natures." Then, if you'll notice, he says, "What does the believer have in common with the unbeliever? Different masters, different eternal values, different whole set of perspectives on life, a different whole series of principles to live by." How do they match? Paul says, "On the basis of that, in our practical daily living, in our relationships, if we want to keep clean in this dirty world, we have to be careful about our relationships and about the intimacy of those relationships and how we relate and partnerships and so forth with each other." Therefore, then he says, God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people." That is, all of us who are believers are indwelt by Holy God. God has come to live inside of us because He has a new sense of direction and a whole new lifestyle for us. Therefore, believers are to be careful about their friends. Now, if you'll look at these five questions, they encompass all the aspects of life. If you'll just notice, when he talks about being partners here and fellowship and harmony and being in common and agreement, what is he talking about? Our whole moral behavior, our understanding of the things of God (light and darkness), the authority in our life (whether it's going to be Satan or the devil), our whole belief system, and our worship (idols versus the temple of God). So that those of us who are believers have a different nature. We think differently, we live differently, and God says we are not to be bound up together with partnerships with, fellowship, try to harmonize with, be in common with or in agreement that those things that are diametrically opposed to everything we believe and stand for as the children of God because it's not our nature. Our whole nature is different. So, what he's saying here is this: there is a prohibition against relating to things, organizations, or persons in whom and with whom that relationship will cause us to violate the truths of God's Word and contradict the very things we believe. Paul says he's giving them a warning here. Now, the negative side of this contrast is that we are to move away from it. The other side is we are to turn toward God, the things of God. Think about this. I think one of the reasons that a lot of Christians are not happy in their Christian life and they're saying, "Well, I try to live the Christian life and I don't feel very successful at it, and I read the scriptures and sometimes I have a hard time, and sometimes I just get depressed about the whole Christian experience, and I don't think I'm living up to what God is expecting." One of the primary reasons is they're trying to straddle the fence. What they're trying to do is they go to work in the morning and they listen to the world. They step over on the world's side and they say yes to things they don't really believe, and they smile at jokes they know that are not right, and they agree with ideas that deep down inside send static in their spirit. They know that's not of God. Then, for example, they come home or they go to church and then it's something totally different. Well, you can't be happy trying to serve God straddling the fence. Paul was saying to these Corinthians, "Look, you have to decide. Because we are children of God, there are just some things we can't get involved with. There are just some relationships we can't tolerate. There are just some organizations we can't be a part of because they are in opposition to the things of God." Now, turn if you will to 2nd Peter chapter 1. 2nd Peter chapter 1, Peter reminds us of something very important. In the first chapter is what he says. Remember we're talking about the first step, the first way we keep clean in a dirty world is we recognize that we have a nature that is different from the unbeliever. He says in verse 4 of 2nd Peter chapter 1, "For by these He has granted, that is these promises, He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the what? The divine nature." So that every single child of God is indwelt by the divine nature, that is the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we have a new nature, we can expect to live differently than the world lives. What Paul is saying here is: don't be bound, don't be a part of, don't get intimately involved in these situations and circumstances and things and organizations because they don't fit who we are. As the children of God, we are to separate ourselves from them. Now that's number one. Number two: develop personal relationships wisely. That's what he's implying. Look, if you will, in the 17th verse. He says, "Therefore, come out from among their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me," says the Lord Almighty. Now, he's made a very strong statement here when he says "do not be bound together." Don't link yourself up with those things that would cause you to begin to drift and to begin to act like you are no longer a child of God. Now, when he says and when I say here, develop personal relationships wisely for the simple reason all of us have relationships and we'll have relationships all of our life. But the question is: what kind of relationships do we develop? What Paul is giving us here is a principle, and that is: our intimate relationships should be with those who know our Master, who follow the principles of the Word of God because that's who we are. To act otherwise, or to link up otherwise with someone intimately in some fashion who is not a believer, is to bring a whole different philosophy of life into your life and try to mix darkness and light, trying to mix the principles of Satan with the principles of Christ, trying to mix things that don't mix and make them mix. They don't mix, and they won't mix, and therefore they won't work. Now, when we think in terms of that, he says if you'll notice in this passage, verse 17, "Therefore, on the basis of what? On the basis of these five questions. They don't mix, they don't work, don't be bound together." Besides that, God says, "I'm going to walk in you and I'm going to dwell in you, and I'll be your God and you'll be my people. Therefore, don't try to straddle this thing and do two different things and walk two different ways. It doesn't work." Now, he says "therefore," verse 17, "come out from their midst, be separate," says the Lord, "and don't touch what is unclean." All three of these commands are given in the imperative, which is in the Greek a way of saying something is very urgent. He says don't mix, don't be a part of that, come out from among these things. You say, "Well now, wait a minute. I have some friends and we've been friends a long time, and we're intimate friends and I don't think there's anything wrong with having a friend who is an unbeliever." Neither do I. That's not what I'm saying. We're talking about relationships here, and when he says "come out from among them," whether it is a relationship or if God leads you to come out of a business or whatever it might be (and I'm saying that's between you and God). I'm just saying here's a principle. The principle is: if we're going to live clean in a dirty world, we have to be careful about our relationships. You may be in something you can't get out of. God understands that, and He will show you how to bear a strong, godly influence and godly witness where you are, so that those around you that you cannot separate from, if it's that kind of situation, will sense something in you that they will want the same Christ that you have. Now Paul brings us back to a passage I want you to look at, if you will, in 1st Corinthians chapter 5. Go back to 1st Corinthians chapter 5. This is a very practical thing. Listen to what he says in 1st Corinthians chapter 5 because, you see, I knew in the very beginning that some of you would say, "Well, now, he's telling us that we shouldn't have any relationship to lost people." That's not what the Bible says. Doesn't even say that. I want you to notice something that may be a surprise to you. When Paul talks about separation in this passage, look who he's talking about. 1st Corinthians chapter 5, verse 9. He says, "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people. And I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world." He said, "I'm not telling you not to have any relationship with what kind of people? Look at this: with covetous, swindlers, idolaters." You mean I can have a relationship with a swindler, an idolater, and covetous people? Look in verse 11: "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler; even eat with such a one." Now, he knew what was going on there in Corinth. What is he saying to us? He's not saying that you and I should not have any relationship with people who are lost, as wicked and as vile as the devil. Why? Because you and I may be the only hope that person has for Christ. It is a matter of not being contaminated with them, not not having contact. And so, that's why we have to work diligently at keeping clean in a dirty world. These folks who say "you've got to join them to win them," the Bible nowhere says that. Somebody says, "Well, but Paul says I must be all things to all people in order to win some." Being all things to all people does not mean indulging in what they indulge in and acting like I believe what I don't believe, but rather understanding where they are. We're to be wise about our relationships. When we walk into darkened rooms, darkened businesses, darkened organizations, whatever it may be, we are to shine. We are to shine for the kingdom of God. But there's some things He will say to us: not that relationship, don't touch that thing, don't be a part of that.
Guest (Male): You're listening to In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. If God tells you to make a change, He'll be with you and give you the strength you need. Remember, He always enables a believer to obey Him. To hear this message again, log on to intouch.org and look for the link to "Today on Radio" right on our homepage. And if you go to the bookstore page, you can order a copy of Dr. Stanley's complete message, "Living Clean in a Dirty World." Again, you'll find these resources at intouch.org. To call or text, the number is 1-800-INTOUCH. To write to us, address your letter to In Touch, Post Office Box 7900, Atlanta, Georgia 30357.
Dr. Charles Stanley: My most favorite one is Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and of a good courage; fear not, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." That's one of mine. And then Isaiah 64:4 when he says God will act in behalf of those who wait for Him. That's an awesome verse of encouragement to me. And of course in the 41st chapter of Isaiah when He says, "I am your God. Fear not. Do not"—it's one of my favorite phrases in the Bible—"Do not anxiously look about you." That's what gets us in trouble. That's what gets our faith to waver. "I am with you. I will uphold you. I will strengthen you." So, you know, just verse after verse after verse that comes to mind. What happens after a while, you build up in your thinking these verses and they become this stalwart sense of part of your foundation, that no matter what happens, here are the promises of God. When I've called on Him before, He was there; He'll do it again. You have to trust Him. When I think about times that I think were difficult for me compared to those kind of times, I realize there are people out there who have a sense of faith and perseverance in the most difficult, trying kind of times that most of us don't know. I just want to say to you who are going through those times: I admire you greatly. I am praying that God will give you the strength and the encouragement and the help, sends you who He needs to send you to encourage you in those times. I'd like to pray for you right now. Father, only You know the depth of pain some people are in right now, whether it is emotional or physical. Only You can encourage their hearts, and only You can bring them through it. Only You can sustain them when the pain is so intense. We cry out to You this very hour, this very moment, for all of those listening, that You would give them a very special sense and awareness of Your presence. Comfort them, God is my prayer. Comfort them in ways that only You can do so. Is our prayer in Jesus' name, Amen.
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