THE BREAD BASKET

Who can deny the validity of the New Testament commands regarding nonconformity to the world? The admonitions are myriad: "Be not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2); "Come out from among them and be separate" (2 Cor. 6:17); "Love not the world, neither the things in the world" (1 John 2:15); "Ye are ... a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9); "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). And the list goes on.

While few deny the validity of these injunctions, what has divided Christians down through the years has been the extent to which nonconformity is observed. Many of the splits, the divisions, and the splinter groups that have come into being-have occurred because they disagreed on the extent of withdrawal from the world. Conrad Beissel's attempt during the 1730s at nonconformity is a classic example (among the Brethren) of almost total separation from the world. The Ephrata Cloister thrived for a while, but the lesson to be learned is that in the end Beissel's endeavor was unsuccessful.

The basis of our separation from the world should be a very positive thing-positive because we've said yes to JESUS and no to the WORLD. But instead, for many believers, nonconformity has rather negative connotations--lists of outward dos and don'ts. Why was Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back toward Sodom? Because her heart was still in Sodom, and she longed to be back in the City. Also, Sodom was in her heart. Her sin wasn't so much an outward one, but rather an attitude--a sin of the mind!

Christians, in varying degrees, attempt to withdraw from the world: By not allowing outsiders into their smug church fellowships; by taking their children out of the public school system; by seeing New Age evidences behind every bush; by drawing attention to themselves by their severe manner of dress; by excluding from their circles those who don't meet their "holy standards." Jesus, you'll remember, admonished us to be salt and light. We are to be in the world but not of it. May none of us develop a "Holy Huddle" mentality, living smugly in our own little world and just waiting for the Lord's Return. If you're part of the "Holy
Huddle" when He does return, how will you respond when He asks, "And whom did you bring with you?" and all you can say is, "I didn't bring anyone with me because I didn't really associate with non-Christians"?