2 Corinthians 6:14–18
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Ephesians 5:6–11
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
James 4:4
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
1 John 2:15–17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
We know what the word says… How do we raise a generation that is separate?
Daniel and His Friends Refusing the King’s Food
1–2 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Jerusalem and carries off sacred vessels from the temple to Babylon.
3–4 He orders that young men from Israel—without defect, well-educated, and wise—be trained to serve in his palace.
5 They are given daily portions of the king’s food and wine and taught for three years before entering royal service.
6–7 Among them are four from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; the chief official renames them Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel 1:8–9
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.
Theme: In Babylonian captivity, Daniel chose not to conform to the empire’s way of life.
Lesson: Even when surrounded by the world’s power and culture, God honors those who stay pure and distinct in devotion.
11–13 Daniel proposes a ten-day test—he and his friends will eat only vegetables and drink water.
14–15 After ten days they appear healthier and stronger than those who ate the royal food.
16 The steward allows them to continue their simple diet permanently.
17 God gives the four young men knowledge, skill, and understanding; Daniel receives special insight to interpret visions and dreams.
18–19 When the training ends, they are presented to the king, who finds them wiser than all others.
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, they prove ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in Babylon.
21 Daniel remains in royal service until the first year of King Cyrus.
What is a current opportunity to be separate?
Samhain (Gaelic “SAH-win”)
- An ancient Celtic festival (Ireland/Scotland/Isle of Man) marking the end of harvest and the start of the “dark half” of the year (Oct 31–Nov 1).
- People lit bonfires and wore disguises; it was believed the boundary with the spirit world thinned.
In practice this meant things like:
- The souls of the dead (or spirits) might more easily visit or wander among the living.
- Divinatory activity (predicting the future) was more feasible, since the normal “separation” between worlds was loosened.
What were their goals during this liminal time?
Given that the boundary was understood to be more open, people acted in several distinct ways:
1. Honour and communicate with the dead & spirits
- They believed the souls of ancestors might revisit their homes and seek hospitality. Offerings of food and drink were left for these souls.
- Setting a place at the table and hearth for the dead was one custom.
2. Protection from harmful spirits / mischief
- Because the threshold was thinner, “hostile” or mischievous spirits might more easily cross into the human realm. So people adopted protective practices: wearing disguises (so as not to be recognised by spirits), carrying iron or salt, keeping fires lit, perhaps creating barriers.
3. Divination / future-telling
- Because Because the spirits were “nearer”, it was thought that glimpsing into the future (particularly about death, marriage, harvest, livestock) was more possible.
