On the microcosm/macrocosm - separation/embrace questions it seems to me that the NT itself voices both in apposition and as such our current debate is not new! There is always a struggle between doing what Jesus did/said to do and doing what comes naturally. For a spirit filled and enthusiastic young church it looks as though doing what came naturally took precedence. We do see in Peter’s vision e.g. that the aim was otherwise and this is a fact that Paul does emphasize but then eventually Paul himself is taken prisoner while attempting to appease the very circumcision obsessed gang that he has been arguing against all along…

The incarnation is a massive embrace. Separation as a hallmark of holiness definitely gets tossed.

It is those (few) fools who see Jesus way as being right in spite of all the evidence against it that gives Paul, and us too, some hope!

Live to serve : Serve to live