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PART SIX
To Not Be Unequally Yoked With An Unbelieving World
74. The CCMI has committed
spiritual adultery in joining itself with the wayward world in
trying to forward the message of the gospel. This has and will
prove to be fatal for Gospel music, as we know it today.
(Deuteronomy 32:22-24; Psalm 1; Jeremiah 17:5-8)
75. We cannot partner with
the believing world in common spiritual enterprise or ministry. To
harness unbelievers and believers in a Christ-centered endeavor is
to be unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
76. We must be separate from
non-Christians in positions of ownership, authority or influence
in the advancement of the gospel. (Ibid.)
77. The kingdom of light and
the kingdom of darkness are two mutually exclusive worlds; two
opposing societies; two converse communities that are incompatible
and incongruous with each other in regards to the faith. (Ibid.)
78. One is characterized by
righteousness. Light, Christ, believers and the temple of God.
Lawlessness, darkness, Belial, unbelievers and the temple of idols
distinguish the other. One is based on God's truth-the other on
Lucifer's lies. In matters of Christian faith and belief no
partnership does or really can exist between these two realms.
(Ibid.)
79. "To the pure all
things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving
nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being
detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good
work." (Titus 1:15-16)
80. God is our Father and
we, as His children, must disavow all praetorian religious and
spiritual alliances with sin and Satan or we will forfeit the joy
and blessing that flow from obedient fellowship in the Lord Jesus
Christ. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)
81. Satan's number one
assault on the church is to infiltrate with error. He doesn't want
to fight the church-he wants to join it. (John 8:44; 2 Cor.
11:12-15; 1 Timothy 4:1)
82. Undiscerning believers
think it a profound ministry strategy to join forces with
unregenerate people in forwarding the gospel. Unwittingly, they
harness Jesus Christ, the Worthy One, with Belial or Satan, the
worthless one, in an unholy alliance-the very essence of being
unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:15)
83. "Ephraim is joined
to idols. Let him alone" (Hosea 4:17)
84. We are not, however,
called to isolationism. We are called to be salt and light in the
world. We are to be faithful witnesses of God's mercy, love, and
grace to the lost and dying. We are to cultivate personal
relationships with unbelievers, love our neighbor and our enemy,
serve them and share our faith with them. (Matthew 5:13-16; 40-44)
85. We are to be in the
world but not of it-and this is our greatest challenge. Separation
is not being divorced from our contact with the world, but from
complicity and conformity to it. (1 John 2:15-17)
86. For instance, it is not
unBiblical to consult non-Christian experts in matters of
business, craft or trade (though whenever possible, Christian
experts respected in these fields are preferable because of shared
integrity), but we can never engage in intimate
binding-indissoluble relationships, alliances, or partnerships
that result in shared responsibility or authority for ministry
purposes. (Deuteronomy 22:9-11; Philippians 2:14-15)
87. The promise of increased
financial resources, wider distribution and a larger audience is
not justification for the surrender or our spiritual autonomy.
(Luke 4:4-12; Ephesians 5:8-12)
88. It is impossible for God
to fully bless and use His children who are in compromise with
non-believers. (Romans 8:7-8)
89. "Adulterers and
adulteresses. Do you not know that friendship with the world is
enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the
world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)
Theses
Opening Statement Theses Part
One:To Do All To The Glory Of God Theses Part
Two:The Authority And Sufficiency Of Scripture-The Hymnbook Of Heaven Theses Part
Three:The Character Of Christian Music Theses Part
Four:The Character Of The Christian Musician- Personal Integrity And
Holiness Theses Part
Five:Guarding The Trust- Accountability To The Local Church Theses Part
Six:To Not Be Unequally Yoked With An Unbelieving World Theses Part
Seven:To Be Above Reproach In All Business Activity Theses Part
Eight:Reclaiming Christian Music For Christ
Published at Worship.Com with permission of Steve
Camp, contemporary Christian music recording
artist and author of the 107 theses.
Visit the new
worship.com at www.worship.com
(1997) www.worship.com
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