[2Corinthians 6:17] Wherefore come out from among them and be ye seperate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
People seems to have the idea that we must mingle with the world and become like it in order to win souls and influence lives for God. Yet when a man fall into a deep well no one ever dreams of jumping down alongside of him in order to get him out. Instead, he stays away up at the top and from there lets down a ladder or rope and thus lifts him up. The men who have won souls and influenced other lives for God have been the men who have walked with God far above the people and thus from an attitude of spirituality have drawn others up to their level. The only way to win others is to be different ourselves and by this they'll be attracted by something they lack and by prevailing with God, prevail with men. Had Abraham gone to live with Lot in Sodom, his influence would have availed but little. It was when he seperated himself and stood off on the highlands of faaith with God that his intersessions secured Lot's deliverance. Brethren, let us be seperate. We must dwell appart with God.
Lastly, I want you to know that the world expects the Christian to be different. It has its owm standard of what a saint should be. And even when the world succeeds in draging us down (like Lot) to its level, it then mocks and laughs at our plight. Then it will no longer respect us nor will it reverence our position. We are then no better than otners.
Be not decieved: evil communications corrupt good manners. [1Corinthians 15:33].