The Separated Church

This week we will examine The Separated Church as another problem with the American Church today. This probably doesn't need to be said, but the Bible cleary teaches that there is only One Church and only One Body of Christ. What I am presenting in these blogs is the idea that individual local churches often pick up certain "flavors" that characterize their attitudes, their ministries, and their members. So this week we will look at The Separated Church.

The Separated Church is a church that believes they must separate as a church body from any and all churches that do not believe like they do. Usually you see some sort of phrase in their constitution that will explain that it is acceptable to participate with other churches "of like and precious faith." In my experience this phrase means nothing of the sort. Really what they mean is that they will participate with other churches that believe everything exactly like they do, whether or not it has anything to do with "the faith." Also these churches (by definition) are almost always "independent." To belong to any sort of group, association, or denomination would be tantamount to heresy.

Usually churches like this rely heavily on passages like Romans 16:17-18 which says, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." This is often used as their proof text to separate from anyone they deem as "causing divisions" or teaching "contrary doctrines." The problem is that this verse is very clear and very specific. Notice that it says they are to stay away from those who teach doctrines contrary to those "that you have been taught." What have they been taught? Paul is referring to the book of Romans and his teaching on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book of Romans is a treatise that develops the whole Gospel starting with everyone's guilt and depravity before God (ch. 1-3), moves into justification by faith (ch. 4), and then begins presenting the benefits of salvation (ch.5). The rest of the book combats false teachings about salvation and discusses sanctification and glorification. So when Paul says that we are to separate over "doctrines" he is referring to the "core doctrines" of Jesus Christ and Salvation.

Clearly the Bible does call each and every local body of believers to a degree of separation. The church is called to be a group of holy believers (1 Pt 2:5), the dwelling place of God (2 Cor 6:16), and is being purified by Christ (Eph 5:25-27). So the issue is not whether or not churches should separate from other groups, teachers, etc. The issue is where the line should be drawn. A typical statement is that we separate over "the core doctrines." The problem is that everyone defines "the core doctrines" differently. As I presented above, Paul makes it clear (in my opinion) that the core doctrines have to do with Jesus Christ and Salvation.

If you begin to think through all the warnings about false teachers you begin to notice a pattern. First John 4 gives a stern warning about false teachers called "antichrists" and John defines them clearly as those who deny Christ. Colossians 2:8 warns us to be wary of anyone who teaches anything contrary to Christ. Second John 1:7-10 tells us to separate from those who don't teach Christ. Galatians 1:6-9 tells us to stay away from anyone who teaches a different Gospel (a gospel of works, rather than faith alone). Philippians 3 tells us to beware false teachers who add anything to the Gospel. Are you noticing a pattern? The Church is called to separate, but the separation is from anything and anyone that would teach a false Gospel or a false Jesus.

But in The Separated Church this is not the prevalent philosophy. The Separated Church separates from anyone who has different music than they do. They separate from anyone who believes all the spiritual gifts are for today (a "charismatic" might as well be unsaved in their book). They separate from anyone who has different standards - drinking in moderation rather than total abstinence, women wearing pants rather than skirts, going to the movie theater rather than renting it and watching it at home, etc. They separate over issues of dispensationalism and covenant theology. In essence, they separate over everything and have helped to create a fractured and dysfunctional church that is viewed by the world as a bunch of people who can't get along.

My plea is that we stop adding the teaching of men to the Bible. Please separate where God tells us to separate and stop causing divisions where God is silent. I pray that we will stop fighting among ourselves and stand with others who believe the same Gospel and the same Jesus (for Jesus' perspective on unity read John 17).