Wednesday, August 22, 2007

On Being Separate

On Being Separate

From The Church and the Land by Fr. Vincent McNabb, OP

…SEEK…FIRST the Kingdom of God, and His justice. First things first, for God’s sake; or you will crash at once. Let your Exodus be after the coming out of Egypt. Leave the garden cities and the flesh pots, not in order to scorn suburbia or to lead a simple life, but to worship God.

Quit most of your fellowmen not because you hate them or despise them, but because you love them so much as to hate the conditions which degrade and enslave them. Do not leave Babylon as hating the Babylonians, but as hating Babylon, which kills the Babylonians…. And do not seek ease or security you can obtain by using Babylon. What will it avail you to cease living in Babylon if you do not cease living on Babylon?

...indeed, be a world apart, a self-sufficient, self-supporting kingdom; and though you surround yourselves with a high wall of brick and a higher wall of silence, your sermon will the heart and hope of all the sermons we apostles will preach in the daily exercises of our craft of apostle…. Fr. Vincent McNabb, OP

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Scripture References on Separation from the World

…the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. - John 17:14


They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. - John 17:16

And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Be’li-al? Or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and you be separate," says 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," says the Lord Almighty. - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. - James 1:27

You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. - James 4:4

…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (a people for God’s possession); that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any [one loves] 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 forever. - 1 John 2:15-17

…I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. - Revelation 18:4


Food for Thought and Prayer:
How much do I depend on God to provide for my needs; and how much do I depend on Babylon?

That's me away then.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, very thought provoking.

God Bless!


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