Christian, dwell alone! Seek not the society of the world. Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? If you have any sympathies with the world—if it contains attractions for you—if God and the things of God are not enough for you—there is something wrong. Love not the world! Seek not its society. Seek the things above. Beware of the fascinations of company,the spells which gaiety throws over the young. Stand your ground. Be not whirled away into the tossing current of gay society on any pretext whatever.
Church of the living God, be separate—dwell alone! That is your security, your strength, your influence. Let the world see that you are not of it; that you do not need it. And you will serve it best by dwelling alone. Not by coldness, sourness, distance; but by love, geniality, gentleness, patience, by all acts of benevolence and words of peace. These are things which are only to be found by “dwelling alone.”
—Horatius Bonar, Christ Is All, ed. Michael A. G. Haykin & Darrin R. Brooker (Reformation Heritage Books, 2007), 83–84.
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2 Comments:
#1 || 08·07·07··14:23 || Bonaparte Snagley
Truthfully i am of mixed emotion reading this post.
I understand the concept of being not transformed and not conformed.
for some reason when i read this i feel as if it is saying go hide in a cave.
it is sandy where i live and cave dwellings are not stable.
how does Christ hanging out with the prostitutes,drunks,tax collecters etc model into this.
curiously yours
Snagley
#2 || 08·07·07··19:44 || David
The idea is not to be withdrawn from society, but to not look for friendship among unbelievers. We can love our fellow man and reach out to them without looking for love and approval in return. This is a call to separation of a spiritual nature.
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