Can the Puritan and the Separatist Be Friends?

Can the Puritan and the Separatist Be Friends?

As I write this, the old song from the musical Oklahoma! goes through my mind.

Oh, the farmer and the cowman should be friends!

In a musical, the answers seem easy. In real life, it wasn’t so easy. The way of doing things in the old west was not only very different for the farmers and cowmen, they were often damaging to one another. For instance, the old cowboys hated barbed wire, while the farmers considered it their best friend.

In the world of Christianity, there is and has always been a difference between the Puritans—the “stay and fight” crowd and the Separatists–the “separate and leave” crowd.

Baptist Fundamentalists are separatists and we are not typically a patient lot—especially with our closest friends.

While the application of this important doctrine is essential, it is also essential that it is practiced with godly kindness and patience toward another. This is especially true when discerning when to stop fighting for the institutions we built, cut our losses, and leave.

The following truths might help us to be more patient with one another in what should be a very painful process. These principles apply to churches, institutional relationships, and denominational structures.

We do not practice biblical separation for historical reasons, but rather for biblical reasons.

Change is not a good enough reason to call someone disobedient–even if we do not like the change or it is clearly an unwise change. If historical continuity is our only ruler we will become traditionalists rather than Biblicists. The only biblical way to apply biblical separation is to go back to the specifics of scripture and apply them in the present moment.

The key biblical questions remain the same. Is this person a false teacher or is this institution promoting false doctrine? Is this person or institution bidding godspeed to those who teach false doctrine? We are required to separate from each of those.

What do you do with the person who will fight against false teachers while remaining institutionally connected to them? They are not bidding godspeed, but what they are doing will eventually be corrupting if the status quo remains. And then, what do you do with the people who interact with or even fellowship with the “stay in and fight” crowd? The Bible teaches what we have come to know as first and second-degree separation. What about third, fourth and fifth-degree? At some point, it becomes a wisdom issue rather than an orthodoxy issue.

In hearing accusations against a brother, make sure that the accusations are factual.

This is why the Bible requires two or three witnesses. Pick up a phone and make a call. Ask for yourself. Let the accused speak. You might find that circumstances are not exactly as presented.

It’s not just about the facts, it is also the interpretation of the facts. For instance, just because the accusation is true does not mean it is new. Ask yourself this question. Is this accusation new, or has this been the situation for many, many years? If so, why was it not considered a problem years ago? When trying to make our case for the compromise of another, there is a great temptation to pile on with accusations. This is not helpful. Focus on the core issues—the real issues.

It sometimes lots of tedious communication to drill down to the core issues. Communication takes time. This is the body of Christ. That effort is worth it.

We must be patient with those that have not yet come to the same conclusions that we have.

There will always be tensions between the “stay and fighters” and the “get outers” especially when the discussions are happening privately. You cannot stay and fight forever, but that does not mean that you should not battle for your church or institution at all. Just giving up quickly might not good stewardship.

In the early days of the compromise of the Northern Baptist Convention, the group of churches that became the GARBC chose to separate much earlier than other fundamentalists. Not only did the GARBC separate, but they also did not allow their churches to hold dual affiliation with the NBC. The rest of the Fundamentalist Fellowship stayed in and fought to try to retain the institutions. Eventually, the rest of the fundamentalists left too, but not after trying to win back the convention for more than a decade. It seemed that this caused more conflict between the two fundamentalist groups than between each of them and the modernist coalition. I am sure those that stayed wondered if those that left sooner could have made the difference, while those that left eventually felt vindicated by their choice. I do not have the wisdom to stand in judgment over either group.

If the impulses of conscience dictate cessation of fellowship, then stop fellowshipping. However, be patient with your brother who might not be at the same point in the process as you.

There are a lot of factors that impact when someone might finally give up and get out. The big one is a matter of influence. Those without significant internal influence tend to get out quicker. Those who are in positions where they have the opportunity to make a difference often feel a greater sense of responsibility to give every last bit of effort. This situation should not last decades, but there is a place for being patient with and encouraging a brother who is still seeking to be a constructive influence.

Forgive when mistakes are acknowledged.

I have made a number of mistakes in ministry. I am glad people that I work with have been gracious with me when I have admitted them. If someone makes a mistake and admits it, accept it. It is unchristian to make them grovel or forever hold them accountable for that mistake. . Jesus clearly indicated this when he commanded believers to always forgive one another (seventy times seven).

Thinking the best of someone is a biblical command.

If there is one clear biblical command that Jesus gave to believers it is this—we have an obligation to interact with one another in Christian love. I have heard fundamentalists make fun of others for being too loving. It is not wise to mock someone for obeying biblical commands. Christian love does not require compromise, but it does have clearly defined characteristics.

Paul said that the love we have toward one another requires that we “believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.” Skepticism and a “gotcha” attitude are not manifestations of Christian love. While we are not required to accept obvious lies as truth, we are required to give one another reasonable benefit of the doubt.

Keep the discussion in the proper realm.

I bring this one up because of the context in which I am writing right now.

We have a problem today. Almost all of our mass communication has gone universal. When dealing with more than private matters of separation thirty years ago, we could send letters to appropriate parties, or even print explanations in publications (magazines like FrontLine) that targeted specific Christian audiences.

The internet is different. It is a form of communication that reaches the lost and saved alike. I have very serious concerns about taking matters of correction between true believers into the Google search space of an unbelieving world. When the unbelieving world finds it useful, they will find even this website. It was just a few years ago when an article here was quoted on nearly every mainstream news outlet. I was so thankful that Dr. Dave Shumate wrote that article in such a way that it reflected well on us and on our Lord.

Paul condemned the Corinthian believers for taking their internal differences before heathen judges (1 Corinthians 6).

I understand the importance of calling out false teachers and their enablers—defending the gospel–in the public space. We want even unbelievers to know that what that person teaches is not what we believe. However, calling out and correcting Christian brothers in the public arena before an unbelieving world is a different matter. Your unbelieving neighbors and co-workers are reading your Facebook page.

This would apply to blog sites like this one. We need to be able to address important issues but before the right group of people. Maybe the discussion should occur behind some permission wall at least. I do not yet have the answer to this, but I do think it is a question worth addressing.

Biblical relationships do not have to be all or nothing.

When an institution seems to be headed in a suspicious or uncertain way, it can be prudent to withhold support at various levels without publicly opposing—at least until the matters of concern are resolved.

There is wisdom in being patient separatists, especially with one another, as we work through difficult and often heartbreaking situations.

 

 

Photo by Jon Davis