At what point does one become a "separatist"?

We support IMB (SBC) missionaries as well as a few independent missionaries both IFB and others. We judge on the basis on the person.

It's the same way with people i invite to preach for me. I check them out in terms of major doctrines (for lack of a better phrase, the fundamentals) and if they can be a blessing to our people, I'll use them if I can.

But it depends on what you feel is important. If you feel _______________ (fill in the blank) is vital then you have to be true to the Lord's leadership in your life and stay away in terms of using them in the church.

 

It's not those UNsaved friends that gets you into trouble.. it's the Methodists!!!!:laugh:

 

Separate: aka testing of fellowship

There is one basic issue which separates: authority to carry out Mt. 28:16-20. cf: Mt.16:18. This boils to: there are many usurpers out there--most are dressed like sheep. This is a pivotal issue. If the holy see has the authority, which they certainly claim, all others are usurpers.

This leaves a rather sizeable group claiming to be Christian, including the followers of Joseph Smith Jr. Most of these would be called Protestant by the religious powers that be.

Wrongly conglomerated with this hodge-podge called Christianity is a group of believers who have been earnestly contending for the faith since before the writing of Jude 3. One of their basic claims is that they are not part of the Protestant Reformation; and that their Faith and Practice goes back to the shores of Galilee, circa A.D. Theirs is a history written in blood.

Some of these saints are presently called Baptist--another term that needs a lot of definition. There are dozens of groups called Baptist--some able to fellowship, others cannot. Why? Some have watered down sound doctrine for the most part--following every wind of doctrine with ears that itch.

There are two basic issues which separate: baptism and communion. Baptism has been an issue for centuries--mostly regarding the authority and efficacy. Many of our forefathers died for being Ana-Baptists. They incurred the wrath of the Holy See and Protestants. This is still a pivotal issue--it will not go away, nor should it. Food for thought: if one has adult immersion by the LDS, is the baptism valid? Why? Why not?

The communion: is it open, close or closed? All of the above is not a possible answer.

Is there really any room for compromise to facilitate fellowship?

I don't think so.

Will the Lord find The Faith when He returns? Yes, He promised to never leave nor forsake His Bride.

Even so, come Lord Jesus,

Selah,

Bro. James

 

Hello Bro. James

Thank you very much, for your post.
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I have met some Baptist pastors, who see communion as a point of separation:
They being closed, seem to be compelled to separate from me, because I am close.

But I feel the Biblical point of separation, is the Gospel that is preached.....
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
V.14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
V.15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
V.16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
V.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,

The Church, should not fellowship with anyone who preaches a different way to get to heaven.
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Over the years, this point has come up, when ever I was asked to bring my Church into the local ministerial alliance, of what ever town I might be in.
It always included the Catholic Church(etal), so I always take a stand against joining.

Some might have asked me, why I refuse to join, when the local SBC churches are a part,....Do I think that I am better than them?

Not better, just more Biblical.

 

For sure, Satan does not want our Churches to be following God’s instructions to separate from unbelievers. So what is he going to do?

He will deflect the importance of “Biblical separation”, by getting people to separate over stupid things.

Every time any Christian separates over incidental or foolish reasons, they hurt the cause of Christ, by discouraging Biblical separation!

 

I would say that separation comes in two forms -- from ultra-sinful worldly actions and from those within the church who hold to heretical or blasphemous doctrines.

But, that being said, I have looked to see where Jesus separated Himself from anyone, and it appears that He did not. He was with demoniacs, He was with polluted religious figures, He was with blatant sinners, including tax collectors and prostitutes, He was with women, men, children (which is pretty much everyone...), and even with Samaritans, Greeks, Romans, soldiers, and, yes, Satan... That may be our best example!

When Paul speaks of being unequally yoked, he is speaking in light of uniting with -- almost in a marriage or business sense, not merely being with persons who do not see things as we do. Taking his words, and then making that a case to radically separate from everyone and everything misses the larger points of our Savior, who told us to go into the world, knowing just what we would find once we were there.

For what it is worth, I have never seen a case in the history of the church where radical separation led to anything other than (eventually) heresy. The church is to be united, even in our differences, for our points of similitude are more important and take precedence over our differences. We ALL hold to one God in three persons, One faith, one Lord, One Savior, one baptism, one Table of the Lord, one regenerated life, one resurrection, and one life to come in eternity with our God. Is that not enough to call each other brother and sister in unity?

 

Hello glfredrick

Sure enough the passage in 2 Corinthians does extend to business and marriage, but it is also clearly an instruction to the Church.

God’s Church, should not be in joint endeavors, with churches that don’t preach the right Gospel, for obvious reasons. To say nothing of the Biblical reason, that the Lord will withhold His blessings from them.
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As for applying our Lord’s “personal separation”, over to the Church, the Bible makes it very clear that this should not be done.
Personally I will converse with anybody, if for no other reason, to win them to Christ.
But there is so much Biblical instruction to the local Church, in the area of separation, that it can’t be ignored.

As for “radical separation”, I am not sure what that is.
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I liked your for first paragraph, about separating from ultra-sinful or worldly individuals within the Church; But I noticed that you didn’t provide a Scriptural reference.

Here’s one........
2 Timothy 2:20-21
V.20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
V.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

 

Amen!!!

"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to keep company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one do not eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." 1 Corinthians 5:9-13