Muhammad wanted a specific religious experience to come out of all his efforts. But he was willing to be intertwined with worldly connections if need be. After years of struggle with Mecca from his Medina sanctuary, a revelation confirmed that a treaty with Mecca was the thing to do. Thus he became wedded to the very system he had decried all this time. Later he overcame Mecca.

Jesus taught His followers to live at peace with all men, to be sure, but also to come out from the world and be separate. No ties, compared to the yoking of two oxen, were considered healthy to the child of God. The church must operate in the world, but be separated from it as far as ultimate dependence.

We grieve when we see Christian churches sending to the streets men with buckets to collect money for their assembly. God has ordained that the people of God care for their own needs and only reach out to the world to give, not to receive. God cares for His own.