"Separation" APPLIED THE FUNDAMENTALIST IS
NOT TRYING TO BE UNLOVING,
SCHISMATIC OR EXCLUSIVE. HE
SIMPLY SEEKS TO BE OBEDIENT
TO THE LORD AND HIS WORD
ABOVE ALL ELSE!The Principle of Biblical Separation The Biblical doctrine of separation is based on one
of God's essential attributes -- HIS HOLINESS.
He never looks upon sin with the least degree of
tolerance, and this necessarily extends to His will
concerning the conduct of His children. As be-
lievers, we are called unto fellowship with God who
"(5)...is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6)If we
say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" I John
1:5, 6. Therefore, there is an absolute necessity
for separation from whatever is "darkness;" that
is, whatever is in direct opposition to His very
nature. The will of God for the saint is always the
same: "(15)...be ye holy in all manner of conver-
sation; (16)Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I
am holy." I Peter 1:15, 16.
Most believers agree that the Bible teaches the
principle of separation -- but comparatively few
seem concerned about the need for its personal
application. This is especially true when our
fellowships and associations are examined. All
too often, the things we feel are most loving,
expedient or non-divisive determine what we con-
sider to be God's will in any given situation. But
this is a grievous error if the result of such reasoning
is contrary to the plain teaching of the Word of
God. We would do well to carefully consider what
the Bible teaches about "separation," and then
direct our walk accordingly!The believer's separation from evil and every false
way is always God's order. We were called to be
separated unto Christ and declared positionally
sanctified "in [H]im" the moment we believed and
were saved. In our Christian lives we are admon-
ished to walk in a sanctified, separated manner
which is worthy of our "...high calling of God
in Christ Jesus." And when our Lord comes
back again and catches away His Bride, we
will be partakers of that great, final separation!
Yes, indeed, separation is a precious Biblical
truth -- past, present and future!The Practice of Biblical Separation Although the doctrine of separation is a dominant
theme throughout the Scriptures, the difficulty
comes, as mentioned before, in its application.
The prohibition of participation in, and even
identification with, blatant godlessness and unbe-
lief is readily accepted as a Biblical imperative.
Yet, at the same time, many Christians find it more
of a problem to understand why we are also com-
manded by God to have NO FELLOWSHIP with
ANYONE or ANYTHING disobedient to the Word
of God, even if this means we must separate from
errant fellow believers and compromised Christian
organizations and ministries. God's directive for
the believer in respect to evil is the same whether
the leaven is found outside (Luke 12:1) or within
(I Corinthians 5:6-8) the [local] Church.The first aspect of this doctrine is separation from
the evil of the world, and from all unbelieving
individuals and organizations. II Corinthians
6:14-18 plainly states that the believer must not
be "unequally yoked together [fellowship, associ-
ation or identification] with unbelievers...,"
but is to "come out from among them, and be
ye separate[.]" A fundamentalist must never
join with any man or organization where those
represented are not clear in their testimony of
the new birth, or their strict adherence to the
truth of the Word of God. Any common
religious or spiritual endeavor (worship, evangelism,
prayer, education, relief, etc.) would be in direct
conflict with this Biblical commandment. Such
activities, when undertaken, identify Christians with
the liberal, apostate position of unbelievers.Our responsibility, however, does not stop there.
Ephesians 5:11 commands us to "have no fel-
lowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove them." We must not only
separate from all groups riddled with unbelief,
such as the National and World Councils of
Churches, but we must also vehemently sound
a warning to other believers who might be drawn
subtly into complicity with the ecumenical apos-
tasy. False religious leaders may present an amiable
and pious exterior, but our duty is still to expose
and oppose their unbiblical practices which deceive
the unwary. I Timothy 6:3-5 and II Timothy 3:5.A heretic who denies Bible
truth is to be rejected, not embraced!
Titus 3:10. A Bible believer must not find himself
in common cause with such individuals, whether it
is by ecclesiastical affiliation, or by any form of
joint ministry or worship. The clear call is for
everyone who names the Name of Christ to separate
himself from every dishonorable vessel, that is,
those who have turned away from the truth of the
infallible Word. Only then will the believer be a vessel
"meet [worthy] for the master's use, and prepared unto
every good work." Only then will he have fellow-
ship "with them that call on the Lord out of a pure
heart." A believer cannot be in fellowship with
the apostasy and with the Lord at the same time!
Read carefully II Timothy 2:19-22.Withdrawal from counterfeit, apostate Christi-
anity, however, is not the only application of this
doctrine. Separation from disobedient brethren
is also a Biblical imperative! It is precisely at this
point that many believers turn away from the
plain teaching of God's Word and substitute their
own faulty reasoning. Today, there is an abun-
dance of disobedient brethren who are so desig-
nated by the Word of God because of their refusal
to separate from false teachers and apostate affili-
ations as previously mentioned. For them, the de-
sire for visible unity, respectability, popularity or
success, or the avoidance of appearing to be "schis-
matic" or "too negative" takes precedence over
simple obedience to the Bible. They may even
seek to justify their disobedience on the basis
of love or opportunities to witness. But it is still
disobedience, and God says we are not to walk
in fellowship with disobedient brethren. We are
to separate from them. II Thessalonians 3:6, 14
and 15. There is no such thing as so-called "first
and second degree separation," just BIBLICAL
separation!There are, for example, many brethren in the
National Association of Evangelicals who say and
do many commendable things. But no matter
how much "good" may appear to be accomplished,
the fact does not change that by their very associ-
ation with this middle-of-the-road organization
they are repudiating Biblical separation. Refusing
to obey the call to be separate is SIN -- whether
it involves failure to separate from a false teacher
or a disobedient brother. Compromised "evan-
gelical" organizations like the NAE may present
an impressive outward display of numbers and
strength, but it is not a Scriptural unity. It cannot
be pleasing to God when there is not, first of all,
an agreement on -- and then practice of -- the
TRUTH! Amos 3:3.Romans 16:17 commands us to "mark them [point
them out] which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;
and avoid them." The fundamentalist (who, by
definition, is one who practices Biblical separation)
is not the one who causes divisions between be-
lievers. Divisions are caused by the brother who
does not practice sound doctrine -- the doctrine
of separation is no exception -- and the fundamen-
talist is required to separate from him. The funda-
mentalist is not trying to be unloving, schismatic
or exclusive. He simply seeks to be obedient
to the Lord and His Word ABOVE ALL ELSE!The Purpose of Biblical Separation There are at least four reasons why separation from
disobedient brethren is required by God. First,
this type of discipline is necessary in the local
church fellowship in order to maintain church
purity. I Corinthians, Chapter 5 presents a case
in point. That church was charged "not to keep
company, if any man that is called a brother
[whether he is saved or not is not the issue of con-
sideration - he bears the name "Christian"] be a
fornicator, or covetous...with such an one no not
to eat." Verse 11. The individual spoken of
here is disciplined by the church, and is no longer
permitted to fellowship in the ongoing ministry
of the local assembly. If sin is allowed to remain
unconfessed and unforsaken in the Christian fellow-
ship, its corrupting influence will affect others.
Verses 5-7. God has ordained separation to stem
the leavening effect of sin in compromised fellow-
ships.Second, separation from a disobedient brother
is for his spiritual well-being. Unless the standard
of God's Word is raised before the erring brother,
he may continue in his sin unrebuked. II Thessa-
lonians 3:6 commands, "withdraw yourselves from
every brother that walketh disorderly, and not
after the tradition which he received of us." The
context reveals that laziness is not the only basis
for determining disobedience. Any believer who
is unfaithful to "the tradition" (ALL the Scripture
that was given to the [local] Church) was also considered
to be disobedient (cf. II Thessalonians 2:15).
Disobedience to the Word of God is the determining
factor. Separation will have the effect of making
that brother or sister "ashamed." II Thessalonians
3:14. That one is not an enemy, nor should he
be treated as such. He is an erring brother (verse
15), and the desired result of separation is his
repentance and restitution to full fellowship with
the brethren. This should be the attitude
of every fundamentalist -- to lovingly raise a Biblical
standard by way of separation so that the erring
saint will realize his disobedience, repent and
return to right fellowship.The third reason for practicing Biblical separation
is the desire for a "full reward" (II John 8) at the
appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer
is "not crowned [rewarded], except he strive law-
fully." II Timothy 2:5. It will be possible for a dis-
obedient Christian to lose reward at the Judgment Seat
of Christ because of compromised fellowship,
either directly or by identification (II John 10-11 cf.
I Corinthians 3:13-15; Revelation 3:11).
Make no mistake about it, when a believer is identi-
fied with any religious activity which is not true to
God's Word, he will receive the disapproval of
God the Father. Our God is a jealous God.
He wants our undivided loyalty! He is not pleased when
His children are identified, even in the slightest, with com-
promise or error. Such double-mindedness
prevents our fellowship with Him. I Corinthians
10:16-22. Therefore, the support of a mass cam-
paign to reach lost souls may seem most noble.
But, if disobedient, new evangelical brethren are in
the endeavor, the supposed results can never justify the com-
promised fellowship. God will never suspend the
requirement for separation in order to accomplish
ANY worthwhile cause -- even evangelism. That
simply is not the way God works. He always
leads according to His Word, the Bible.Finally, separation from disobedient brethren is
necessary in order to maintain a strong, consistent
testimony in the midst of theological turmoil and
confusion. COMPROMISED FELLOWSHIP
CLOUDS THE ISSUES, DULLS THE SPIRITUAL
DISCERNMENT AND SILENCES SCRIPTURAL
REPROOF! "Be not deceived: evil communi-
cations [wrong fellowships] corrupt good manners
[right conduct]." I Corinthians 15:33. Only a
separated Bible believer is able, in obedience to
God's clear command, to sound a faithful warning
concerning the deception that Satan is sowing in the
[local] Church today (Acts 20:28-31). Always remember
that our God is HOLY, and He calls us to be
holy! In order to be obedient to His command,
we must endeavor, by the grace of God, to be
separated WHOLLY unto Him, REGARDLESS
OF THE COST!-- Dennis W. Costella
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