Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
As Paul speaks to a church that had a tendency to get caught up in all the latest passions of its culture, he reminds them of both their new identity (new creature) and new purpose (ministry of reconciliation). He’s been building this picture of identity for several chapters, including comparing the church to clay pots and tents. He is reminding us that we do not represent earthly strength and permanence. Now he uses the image of ambassadors. Visting, but not citizens.
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. …..
(2 Corinthians 6:1, 3)
…We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
Working with Jesus then, the goal is that call to reconciliation, to salvation through Jesus. To accomplish this, Paul wants to make sure nothing gets in the way of that work. He wants to present no obstacles in how he does ministry that would interfere with the call for reconciliation.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 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. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
(2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
Paul draws the argument together here. We cannot lift this passage from its context to just teach about marriage. This is about the ministry and identity of the people of God. A warning not to mix the idols of the world’s culture with the identity and ministry of the church.
The world has many idols; the things it turns to for guidance, comfort, and control. Our current culture uses tribal grievance, character attacks, outrage at opponents/political enemies, claims to hidden knowledge and conspiracies, and a strong sense of grievance. The western church, especially in America, is too easily swept up into the use of these. From pulpits to Tweets to Facebook pages people who claim to have heard Christ’s call cheer and support politicians and movements that are built on these idols. Not only that, but we step into the yoke and share these idols, using them to advance our agendas. We declare that this is good, or at least necessary.
This is to be not separate at all, but rather yoked up and working alongside the world. Its’ idols are now our idols. We believe that somehow we have found common cause with those who are serving Belial. Christian, may we be visibly, materially, substantially, and eternally apart from these things!