The separatist, instead of holding onto his biblical bearings while interfacing with the irreverent, would rather not have the interaction—and thus, the test of his convictions—at all.  The separatists believe that Christian victory and ascendancy over corrupt culture can come only through avoidance.  The only victory they have over corruption is from the simple fact that they have distanced themselves from being tested.  Therefore, no one, including the separatists, really knows what they believe and what they stand for.  They’re sheltered little darlings that live in a Tweety Bird chirping, religious biosphere away from the ugly world.

The problem with the separatists is not only do they not know what they really know, but also that they fail to reach out to those who could use a helping hand.  What’s worse is they develop an us vs. them mentality, a spiritual xenophobia towards the unwashed masses.  This sin of self-righteousness, in the separatists, happens to be the very thing that ticked off Christ the most.  And BTW, the only folks Christ ever warned His followers to flee from were not the gross, obvious, overt sinners—but the pompous and nauseous, self-righteous religios. 

Infiltration. 

Since absorption and separation are not an option for the true Christian, what is the believer to do?  The only biblical option for the concerned Christian is to infiltrate society.  This means we must leave our sterilized, supposedly sin-free environments and get into the swill of the real world and live what Martin Luther said was the Christian’s duty: a profane life.

Martin Luther, the 16th century Augustinian monk who shook all of Christendom like a bowl of liposcutioned fat, thought that a Christian was worthless until he came to the place of maturity where he could live profanely, i.e., “outside the temple.” 

What good is our faith if it’s just our personal relationship with Jesus?  How the heck does such a faith make a difference to this planet, you little self-obsessed, religious me monkey?  Our faith is useless unless it sees use outside the temple and inside the public square, and the arts and the political realms are in dire need of serious saints who are over-the-top with excellence in what they do.

Don’t absorb the culture, Chicken Little.  Stand up to it.  Also, don’t run from the culture and separate from it, girlie man; but rather infiltrate it with creativity, love, grace and conviction, and watch the world that currently makes you wretch do a 180 via your growing Christian influence.

Giles’ new book, The Bulldog Attitude: Get It or Get Left Behind, has just been released! It is guaranteed to take the poo out of poodles and give them the Bulldog Attitude. It is a great read for young and old, families, churches and corporations who wish to excel. Logon to www.ClashRadio.com and check out Doug's latest interview with Frank Gaffney, author of the book War Footing.