The Spirit of Ecumenism

SEPARATIONS can be painful, especially to the young in age and experience, who often become discouraged, and so withdraw from the body of believers. Is it necessary or even biblical? Should differences in major doctrines warrant it?

Separation is a Biblical principle, and is necessary under certain circumstances. Let’s have a look at some examples in Scripture of when separation is necessary, and see what answers they provide to the questions we have posed.

King Jehoshaphat

Judah’s king, Jehoshaphat, was obligated to unite his forces with Israel’s King Ahab in a battle because of an alliance he had made. The Lord couldn’t bless Ahab in this undertaking, and it nearly cost Jehoshaphat his life. Upon his return home, he was reproved by the prophet Jehu. Jehu the son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat,

“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD” ― 2 Chronicles 19:2

The Samaritans

When Israel began rebuilding the temple after the Babylonian captivity, the Samaritans offered to help. They claimed to worship the same God. However, their religion was not pure. They had made compromises. For example, they made images that they said were to remind them of God. The Lord’s servants replied, “Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God” (Zechariah 4:3). Thus they refused their help or involvement in any way. The next verse shows the true spirit of those that had offered their help. Not being able to help, they “weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building” (verse 4).

Unholy Alliances

In Revelation 18, we read of an unholy relationship, an alliance of the church and state. God calls this unity fornication, and it results in “wrath” and the persecution of His people. When a nation partakes of this persecution, it is said to have drunk of the wine of the wrath of this fornication with the kings of the earth. When that stage is reached, the very last opportunity to come out will have come. It will be imperative for us to separate entirely or we will certainly be lost.

Doctrinal Differences

2 John 1:10-11 tells us,

“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.”

What doctrines are significant enough to warrant not receiving someone into our house?

“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.” “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” ― 2 John 1:7, 9

The doctrine which denies either the Divine or the human natures of Christ.

The Sword of Truth

Jesus tells us that he came not to bring peace, but a sword, and to set men at variance with one another (Matthew 10:34-35). Such a thing may at first seem the un-christian thing to do, but Jesus knew that all who would follow His pure and holy life would find themselves at odds with those who hate the light of truth. He knew that spiritual darkness and error will ever seek to obliterate the light of truth as it is in Christ Jesus. All those who love Jesus will love the truth, and will and should separate themselves from everything that is of this world, and from everyone whose heart is void of the love of truth.

God warns us,

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” ― 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17

Again we read:

. . . When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from paganism, they entered upon a path which led further and further from the truth. . . .

After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children's children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. ― The Great Controversy, p. 45

May the Lord help us to put His commands above any worldly relationship or consideration.

Seventh Day Home Church Fellowships is an association of Sabbath-keeping groups, which through web & tele-conferencing provides means for study, fellowship, and jointly organized missionary projects.

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