"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. " (14) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. " (15) "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. " (16) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. " (Matthew 5:13-16).

The Bible says that christians are to be an influence to the world (Philippians 2:15). This cannot be accomplished without christians being actively involved in life (John 17:15-19; 1 Corinthians 15:10). In Matthew 10:16, Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. " We cannot influence the world without coming in contact with people in almost every walk of life (Matthew 9:10-12). Therefore, God never meant for His people to live in communes, convents, monasteries, or in other separated situations. In passages such as Ezra 10:11 and 2 Corinthians 6:17, when the Bible says that God's people are to be "separate " the idea is meant in terms of behavior and lifestyle, not housing arrangement.

The Bible says that christians must be careful that the world does not influence them more then they do it (1 Corinthians 15:33). We must not be enticed to love the things or the people of the world more than we love God (1 John 2:15-17). The Bible says that when a christian loses his or her desire and potential for influencing the world we become "lukewarm" and distasteful to God (Revelation 3:14-19).

The Bible says that christians can have a positive influence in marriage in regard to their non-christian spouses if they are careful about how they live (1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Peter 3:1-2). The Bible says that the positive influence that christians have on others continues to have an impact even after their death (Revelation 14:13; Acts 9:36,39).