2. Close friendships with non-Christians would probably fall into the category of "friendship with the world". This of course would not mean that these people should not be treated as ones self wants to be treated.
Of course, the logical extension of that would be to sequester all the Christians into a compound so they could be truly "separate," wouldn't it? Christians are called to be "salt" and "light" to the world; it's impossible to do that if we do not form relationships with its people. You may be thinking of 1 Cor 15:33, about 'bad associations spoiling useful habits,' but the context indicates that Paul was speaking primarily of those who deviated doctrinally from the Gospel, not that we should minimize relationships with everyone who is not a Christian.
3.I would think that involvement in wordly politics would constitute being part of the world. I do not think that holding certain appointed-to or hired-into positions such as City Manager, and so forth would be wrong.
Well, then Joseph, Mordecai and Daniel must have all been "part of the world" and therefore enemies of God, according to this interpretation, right? Even military men like Cornelius are not said to have left their positions in order to become Christians. When soldiers came to John the Baptist and asked what they should do, he did not tell them to "get out of the world's politics"; he simply told them not to take advantage of those under their authority. Both Daniel 4 and Romans 13 tell us that God places the human rulerships in their positions - not that He 'permits them to exist,' as the Watchtower asserts. That being the case, can their really be an objection to Christians serving in governmental positions?
Let's face it being a "real" Christian has always been a challange and one is to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.
I see that you have cited one of the favorite out-of-context proof texts of the Watchtower, namely Phillipians 2:12. But, as Narkissos pointed out above, context is everything. Let's look at verses 12 and 13:
Phi 2:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
Phi 2:13
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for
His
good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12 is often quoted by Jehovah?s Witnesses and others in an effort to prove that our works contribute to our salvation. Generally, they will stop short of continuing the quotation to verse 13, which demonstrates that it is God doing the work in us. To ?work out? our salvation is not the same as to ?work for? salvation. One who ?works out? a problem or a debt is not trying to gain a problem or a debt; he is carrying out the natural obligations of a problem or a debt that he already has. Similarly, the Christian ?works out? a salvation that he already possesses by yielding to God?s leading in his life.
