Most Believers have heard the phrase “Be IN the world, but not OF the world,” that is a paraphrase of Jesus’ words in John 17:14-15. And we DO have to live IN the world. And, as Christians, we ARE called to be separate or come apart from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17). Those 
two ideas have been interpreted in many different ways over the years. Factions like the Amish, Mennonites, etc that believe “being separate” means living in their own communities and not interacting with the outside world any more than is necessary. Admittedly, most of the rest of us view that as a little extreme, but it is one interpretation.
Let’s look at the life of Daniel. He was a good Jewish boy from the tribe of Judah. As a teenager, he was taken into captivity and brought to Babylon. In its heyday, Babylon was a thriving city, believed to be the largest in the world. It was full of business and trade and people from different backgrounds and cultures. It was attacked and rebuilt time and time again and the city was always seen as a prize for invading forces. Babylon was home to the tower of Babel (Genesis 11) and the famous hanging gardens, said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar for his homesick wife. It was a place of rampant idol worship and paganism.
When Nebuchadnezzar defeated Israel and overthrew Jerusalem, he took not only Temple treasures, but he selected young, healthy, handsome, well-educated men from the royal families and took them back with him as well. His intention was to indoctrinate them into Babylonian culture. He brought them to the palace, gave them Babylonian names, and they were to eat off the king’s table and be trained in 
the local ways and customs.
So there was Daniel, given the name Belteshazzar (which means Ba’al’s Prince – for a God-fearing Jewish boy – can’t imagine he was happy about that) and against his will, totally immersed in Babylonian culture. BUT DANIEL NEVER FORGOT WHO HE WAS. In his writings, he referred to himself as “I, Daniel,” not by his new Babylonian name. When the king’s staff expected him to eat meat sacrificed to idols and drink the king’s wine, he refrained. He stood his ground, but he did it in such a way as to not get the king’s staff in trouble with the king (Daniel 1:8-16). Daniel studied, prayed, and God gave him wisdom and understanding. He also gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams. Daniel was so knowledgeable, in fact, that the king found that he had no equal when it came to wisdom. And the Word says when Nebuchadnezzar had questions, he found Daniel and his friends “ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom,” (Daniel 1:20)
Isn’t that how we should be too? Instead of walling ourselves off from non-Believers and living in a bubble, shouldn’t we be standing 
steadfastly among them? Just as Jesus went into the world, he sent us out into it. He prayed that we would not be taken out of the world, but protected from the evil one and sanctified with truth (John 17:15-19) Shouldn’t it be that when a non-Believer gets into trouble, and all of their friends have abandoned them, that they seek out the children of God? That when they are diseased in their lives and minds and bodies, that they know where to come to look for healing? It is THEN that we have our best opportunity to love on them, minister to them, and introduce them to our Savior. Shouldn’t we Believers be known for our faithfulness, kindness, and integrity? Shouldn’t we be used by God to influence the world around us, and not vice versa? Have you remembered, in the midst of dealing with the world, who you are? Have you remembered who God says you are?
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