The relationship between the believer and the unbeliever is a complex one. Let’s first consider what Paul told us, that is, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is” (Romans 12:2). He also taught “do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness…come out from their midst and be separate” (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17). There is a sense of separation between believers and unbelievers. There is a way in which we are not to be connected to them. There is a difference between them and us.

The difficulty comes in when we consider that we are supposed to reach out to unbelievers (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Colossians 4:5-6). Paul even implies that we are to have a level of relationship with them in referring to eating meals with them (1 Corinthians 10:27-30). Plus Jesus commonly hung out with sinners (Matthew 9:10). Therefore, the scriptures above are not speaking of a complete withdrawal from society, but some type of difference between believers and unbelievers.

John explains this concept further. He says, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). Now he begins to explain what he means by the world. When John says “the world,” he has in mind the “lusts” or desires of the world (1 John 2:17). “The lusts” of the world is pointed out as opposite to doing God’s will or righteousness when he contrasts “the lusts” with “but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). The difference between the unbeliever and the believer is that of holiness vs. sinfulness (1 John 3:24, 4:7, 5:2-4). We are to not become like them in behavior that is sinful.

He also points out that this separation and the difference is between those who “know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). John connects this worldliness to the “antichrist” or “spirit of the antichrist” (1 John 2:18, 4:3) by using these terms in context with differentiating between believers and those of the world. Those who are worldly or connected with the antichrist are those who deny, “that Jesus is the Christ,” “the Son,” and “has come in the flesh” (1 John 2:22-23, 4:2-3). What we believe is very important. We are told to “Pay close attention to [ourselves] and to [our] teaching” and to “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:16, Titus 2:1). We are warned about those who “advocate…a different doctrine,” so that we will not be “deprived of the truth” (1 Timothy 6:3, 5). We are urged to reach the point that we are not “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:14-15). The matter of not being like the world is a matter of doctrine or belief. We are to not believe anything the world believes that is counter to the Bible.

So this separation of the believer from the world is a matter of belief and lifestyle. We are supposed to be in the world, building relationships and hanging out with the lost. However, the difference is that we withdrawal from unbiblical beliefs and lifestyles. Now there is a movement that tends to think differently. They complain that “New Churches have gradually drawn away from the secular world.” They are concerned that “many young people feel out of place.” Followers of this movement describe themselves as not starting “with a predetermined mould and expect non-churchgoers to compress in.” They ask the unbeliever “What might be an appropriate expression of church for them?” Now while items that are truly cultural and not biblical we should not impose on those wishing to become Christians. We should give careful consideration to the reasons people are not being drawn to Christianity. In no way should we want people to be uncomfortable with the idea of becoming a Christian. However, we do these things not at the expense of biblical beliefs and lifestyles. Many within the Emergent Church movement are willing to sacrifice biblical beliefs and lifestyles for the sake of getting people to like church or them. We must ask ourselves, what are we winning people to; discussion groups or to true biblical Christianity. The perspective of the Emergent Church is counter to what we have seen the Bible say above. Now while this is not a completely organized group and so not everyone is of the same mindset, just the majority. Even still, we should be concerned about this growing movement. The quotes were found from the following website Emergent Church Info . In the coming months I will continue to research this movement and share the biblical response to it. Please email me if you have any questions.