Even the mere mention of the term "Biblical Separation" outrages the majority of today's professing Christians. Those who practice separation as the Bible commands are attacked for being without love for their fellow man, or labelled as overly legalistic. They are condemned from every quarter for posing a threat to the unity of Christians, and it is echoed from pulpits across the land that one who would even suggest not extending fellowship to another believer is heretical.
The condemnation of those who practice "Biblical separation" is a WORLDLY and NOT BIBLICAL teaching. Let's briefly examine exactly what a "Biblical Separatist" is:
DEFINITION: A Biblical Separatist is a Christian who withdraws from or will not associate nor cooperate with a church, group, body, organization or individual that :
- Includes unbelievers and advocates teachings and practices which are contrary to scripture
- Is apostate and advances apostate teachings and practices
- Includes believers who aid, sanction, and advance apostates by their alignment and cooperation with them
- Includes believers professing to be Christians who disobey and compromise clear Biblical teaching.
There are many instances that God directs us to SEPARATE from others:
OFFENDING PARTIES | WHAT THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO DO | TRANSLATION |
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them..." - Eph. 5:5-7 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. " - Eph. 5:11 | DO NOT SHARE with them in their sin. DO NOT participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, rather -REPROVE and EXPOSE them. | |
"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" - Tit. 1:10-13 | REBUKE THEM severely that they may be sound in the faith. | |
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." - 1 John 4:1-3 | DO NOT BELIEVE every Spirit, but TEST and TRY whether it be from God. | |
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." - 2 Tim. 3:1-5 | TURN AWAY from men such as these. AVOID them. | |
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." - 2 John 7-11 | DO NOT receive them into your house, DO NOT greet them, DO NOT wish them well. | |
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." - Gal. 1:6-9 | Let him be ACCURSED (destined to divine judgement) | |
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. " - 2 Cor. 6:14-18 | Be NOTYOKED unequally with them. COMEOUT of their midst. SEPARATE yourselves from them.
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"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." - 2 Thes. 3:6 'And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." - 2 Thes. 3:14-15 | WITHDRAW from them. NOTE (mark) them. Have NO COMPANY with them. ADMONISH them as a brother. | |
"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." - Titus 3:9-11 | After the first and second warning, REJECTTHEM. | |
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." - Rom. 16:17,18 | WATCH (mark) them. TURN AWAY from them. |
