Before You Separate, Consider

So you are absolutely fed up. The church, institution, or Christian servant you have loved and trusted is just not what he, she, or it (we will just use “he” for brevity) used to be. You want someone to speak up. Say something! How can we let this go on?

Hold on a second! Before you take that separation step, and certainly before you demand someone else do it, it might be wise to go back to the Bible and ask some foundational questions. After all, biblical separation is a solemn practice that is reserved for some very specific and egregious situations. We have been handed a very important biblical doctrine from our forefathers. We have an obligation not to corrupt it.

Is he a false teacher?

Does this person with whom you are considering breaking fellowship deny some or all of the fundamentals of the faith? Is he a false teacher? And yes, there are many false teachers out there today. The Prosperity Gospel is a false gospel and those who promote it are false teachers. The same is likely true for those who promote fornication as a lifestyle pleasing to God. It is an attack on the nature of God Himself and His holiness.

Is he a disobedient brother?

Ok. He is not a false teacher. Is he guilty of anything on the 1 Corinthian 5 list? Is he a drunk, fornicator, abuser, money-grubber, idolator, etc.? Such a person should not be extended the fellowship of church membership. Fundamentalists have also considered one who refuses to separate from false teachers as a disobedient brother. After all, 2 John 10-11 says that when you give a false teacher your blessing you become a participant in his evil. Paul confronted Peter over false fellowship even without false teaching (Galatians 2:11-14).

Is this a limited fellowship situation?

Paul and Barnabas had a sharp conflict over a philosophical ministry decision in Acts 15:38-41. Usually, such conflicts are not over a biblical principle but how that principle should be applied. The areas in question can include dress standards, worship practices, music choices, entertainment choices, ministry philosophy, translation preferences, and other issues. It is very possible that one party is absolutely wrong and the other is absolutely right. These are not insignificant matters and sometimes limiting fellowship based upon such differences in not just wise but necessary. The level of fellowship may vary given different circumstances, but it can go so far as changing churches, quitting a job, or resigning a board.  Sometimes it means supporting a different college or mission board.

In such cases, the usual practice is for the disagreeing brothers to just part company or limit cooperation. This is not normally the time to publicly castigate a brother. It might be time to restate publicly your own position on a matter. Usually, such disagreements should not be aired before an unbelieving world (1 Corinthians 6:1-11). This does not preclude publicly stating and defending your own philosophy and practice. Sometimes that might be necessary just for clarification.

What about when we disagree regarding the last two?

Often, our big dispute with one another is the definition of a disobedient brother. For instance, when does the corruption of worship become a form of idolatry rather than just a differing philosophy? Does failing to separate from a disobedient brother mean that someone is now a disobedient brother himself? Some (from both sides of the argument) have tried to push Bible translation choice into the disobedient brother category. It might be, but that depends on the doctrinal position underlying the translation choice rather than just the translation used. You may roll your eyes at this discussion, but we will all practice a form of separation eventually. Wisdom dictates that we seek to do it based upon established biblical principles and not on the emotions of the moment. When you do decide to separate, there is a biblical process for doing it. That is a later discussion.

So, what situation are you thinking about right now? Where does it fit above? Are you sure? Then let’s act appropriately.