Biblical Separation is About Doctrine, Not People

 

There is a difference between biblical (doctrinal) separation and limited fellowship over philosophical differences. Obedient believers will have to practice both, but they are practiced differently.

The biblical mandates for separation are about battling for “the faith.” Jude commands believers to earnestly contend for “the faith”—that core of doctrines essential to New Testament Christianity. Our forefathers called these the Fundamentals of the faith.

Over time, one danger in the practice of biblical separation is to drift away from the doctrinal issues that initially defined it and make separation about long-standing associations instead. The only way to keep the practice of separation balanced is to continually refocus upon the core doctrinal issues we are commanded to defend.

We are commanded to separate from false teachers because they corrupt the faith. They do violence to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are commanded to separate from disobedient brothers because their actions misrepresent the gospel. The list of sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 serve as an example. Claiming salvation while living in such open sin does violence to the gospel. It communicates to a lost world that the gospel is for hypocrites and is powerless to change lives. It also corrupts the church body.

In the same way, the brother who condones (in word or action) the message of false teachers also confuses the gospel. He implies agreement where there should be none.

So before we consider separating from someone it is important to clearly define how the essentials of the faith are being compromised by the one from whom we are separating.

There are times when philosophical differences—even important ones—limit fellowship and/or ministry cooperation, but they are not the same as doctrinal separation. They also do not demand the same public declaration of division that doctrinal separation does. Most often, limited fellowship is practiced quietly and with deferential grace. Limited fellowship might need some public explanation in certain circumstances, but it does not demand the public denunciation required by doctrinal separation.