Although the doctrine of separation is prominent throughout the Scripture, difficulty arises when actually attempting practice this truth. In some cases, it is very easy. For example, to reject the false doctrines of the cults is not too difficult and does not usually involve any great sacrifice. However, many believers have difficulty understanding and obeying God's command to separate from churches or ministries that have compromised or failed to follow God's Word. Yet God's directive concerning evil is the same whether the sin is found outside or inside the church.

The Basis of Separation

Separation sometime has a bad reputation. Some folks imagine a great list of "taboos." Certainly the Scriptures label certain things as off limits for God's people, but it is important for us to grasp the principles involved in determining what pleases the Lord. How should we decide what is "taboo" for us? Isn't it unloving to shun people or things? Why should why separate from anything or any person?

The Holiness of God

Separation springs from the very nature of God. 1 Peter 1:15-16 affirms, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

The Reality of Conversion

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Command of Scripture

"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," 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Defining Separation

Four Related Words

"Separation", "sanctification", "holiness", and "saints" all have the same basic meaning - set apart. When we say that God is holy, that means He is "set apart" from all other in His righteousness. When we say that the Bible is holy, we mean it is "set apart" from all other books. When we are taught to sanctify the Lord in our hearts, this means we are to set God apart from idols.

Two Aspects

Separation necessarily involves two things - one to be left and one to be joined. For the believer, we are to separate from the ungodliness to the Lord. Paul clearly expresses this concept in Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

more to come....

Glorify Jesus Christ

Because we are bought with the blood of Christ, we cannot do with our bodies as we please. We must be sure that everything we do glorifies God. Paul told the Corinthian believers that every human activity must be accomplished to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Christian is not a law unto himself, for he is owned by another. This principle is also certainly true concerning activities that occur in the local church. As members of Christ’s body, all our activities within our congregation must be holy and glorifying to Christ. We glorify Him through evangelism, study of the Word, prayer, singing, fellowship with other believers, and observing the ordinances.

Evangelize the Lost

In Luke 24:46-49, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit so they could obtain the power necessary to preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations. The disciples, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, needed to understand that they were responsible for witnessing to others about Christ (Acts 1:8). The responsibility to preach the gospel to every person in the world belongs to the church (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20).

Instruct and Edify Believers

The role of the Pastor: In Acts 20:27-31, the apostle Paul told the Ephesian church leaders to “take heed…to all the flock…[and] feed the church of God.” Believers must be built up in the faith and instructed in the Word of God. The pastor must fulfill his God-given responsibility to watch, warn, and instruct his flock. Paul also told Timothy to “preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). This preaching to believers was to involve reproof, rebuke, and exhortation. Jesus told Peter, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:5-17). Pastors must nourish God’s people. God has given us church leaders for a purpose, and that is to instruct and edify us according to the truth of God’s Word (Ephesians 4:11-15).

The role of every Member: While the pastor has a tremendous responsibility, all individuals in the church are responsible to edify one another as well. Fellow Christians are to build up one another through encouragement and by provoking “unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25). To the church in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification” (Romans 15:1-2).

Observe the Ordinances

Baptism: The ordinance of baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believer’s identification with Him as a part of His body (Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:41-42).

The Lord’s Supper: This ordinance is a memorial, a reminder to the believer, of Christ’s sustitutionary death on Calvary’s cross and a reminder of Christ’s imminent return for His church (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Only true believers should partake of the Lord’s Supper.

By Obeying

We usually think of God's will as a place, but it is primarily about who we are as a person. If you will be what He wants you to be, then He will show you what He wants you to do. A plethora of problems, mistakes, errors, and false living could be avoided if we would just begin with Scripture.  This is a simple principle that is far too often ignored.  The habit of many, even some leaders, is to begin with an idea, philosophy, personal preference, pet peeve or observation, and then go back to Scripture to find a few verses to support their theory.  If we do that, we might be able to convince ourselves of almost anything.  But if all we do and believe emerges from the Word itself, we will be able to discern the value, or lack thereof, of all other ideas.

When you begin with Scripture, in the realm of decision making, you will be able to make your decisions on the basis of solid biblical precepts, commands and principles. The Bible will not tell you what house you are to buy, but it will frame that decision with financial, ministerial and family guidelines. It may not tell you to move to 334 South Grant Street, but it will present issues such as: Are your financial priorities biblical or are you thinking only of your comfort; how much can you truly afford; are you buying for prestige or in order to meet the needs of your family and better minister for the Lord; will this move be the best thing for your spouse, etc.? It is biblical concepts such as these that enable us to make decisions that honor Christ.

By Listening

1. We must expect God to direct us. This is illustrated in the life of the apostle Paul. Note Acts 16:6-10 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them."

God's will for your life is not determined by whether the "door is open" or the way is easy. Paul's journey to Macedonia resulted in his beating and imprisonment (Acts 16:23).

2. We must seek godly counsel. The Scriptures are replete with encouragement for us to seek the counsel of wise and godly people (Proverbs 12:15; 13:10; 15:22; 20:18).  Additionally, Paul tells the believers that they should be involved in counseling one another (Romans 15:14).  The counsel of wise, godly, and scripturally knowledgeable people is an important source for making wise decisions, but we must keep in mind that such counsel is not infallible.  It is a piece but it does not solve the puzzle.

By Trusting

When we have yielded our lives to God in obedience, we can trust the Spirit to guide us. After examining the Scriptures and consulting godly counsel, we can move forward with confidence. Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." When are hearts are yielded to God's Word, then the Lord is in control of our desires. God often works through our desires.  What is it that we want to do? is a good question to ponder.  In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul writes that those who desire to be pastors desire a good thing.  But carefully note, Paul did not tell Timothy to grab all who desire the office of pastor and install them.  Rather, he lays out for Timothy the requirements that a pastor must meet (1 Timothy 3:2-7; see also Titus 1:5-9).

If you have yielded yourself to God and are listening to His voice, then go forward trusting God to guide you!

- Don't Waste Your Life, p. 45-46

On to the point: Mrs. Riplinger has distributed a "Final Reply to "all" (1 Tim. 5:20) about D.A. Waite." From what I understand the Waite's questioned Mrs. Riplinger about her previous divorces and she flatly denied ever being married to anyone other than her current husband. Then court records were discovered that proved otherwise. This really stirred the hornet's nest! In answering her critics, Mrs. Riplinger manages (without ever mentioning the word "marriage" or "divorce") to ramble for 61 pages in her "defense" (er, I mean attack of the Waites). Phil Stringer's assessment seems to be accurate. I agree many pastors have dealt with such women - unable to see their own faults they go on a rampage against all who try to expose them.

Personally, I do not have a dog in this fight, but it is disturbing that so many Bible-believing Christians will link with this lady. She has a very difficult time being accurate in her research. Proponents of the King James Version make themselves fools when they reject Greek altogether saying: "We believe Greek study has been and will continue to be the downfall of Protestant Fundamentalism." Over at Jackhammer, you will find a good article on different views on the KJV.

Instead of leading on Mrs. Riplinger, let's head to the Bible for what we believe about the KJV and preservation. There is a very helpful book, entitled Thou Shalt Keep Them, which examines what the Bible says about its own preservation.

Evening December 28
“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”— Matthew 10:34

The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.

Fools Rush In Where Monkeys Fear To Tread

I found it via the 9Marks blog, which I skim regularly. It is a humorous rebuke of self-promotion that tends to be characteristic of blogs and social networks.

"When missionaries began evangelistic work among an Indian tribe I visited high in the Andes of Ecuador, they were frustrated for many years by lack of results. Suddenly the Spirit of God began to move and a large number of Indians were converted within a short time. In addition to a hunger for God’s Word, one of the first evidences of their new life in Christ was a great desire to sing His praises. I listened as they stood for hours in their thatched–roof church and sang hymn after hymn. The song from their hearts was the most inescapable characteristic that set those believers apart from everyone else in their pagan village.

The Spirit’s music is not hindered by a monotone or enhanced by a musical degree or magnificent voice. Spiritual joy will shine through a song sung with the raspy, off–pitch voice of a saint who is rejoicing in the Lord, and it will be absent from the song sung with technical skill and accuracy, but with a voice that rejoices only in self.

One of the greatest distinctions of Christianity should be in its music, because the music God gives is not the music the world gives. In Scripture, the word new is used more frequently in relation to song than to any other feature of salvation. God gives His new creatures a new song, a different song, a distinctive song, a purer song, and a more beautiful song than anything the world can produce."

John MacArthur, Ephesians, Includes Indexes. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1986), 256.

All I can say is "Amen!" and "Why this?"

Resolved is the brainchild of a member of Dr John MacArthur’s pastoral staff, gathering thousands of young people annually, and featuring the usual mix of Calvinism and extreme charismatic-style worship. Young people are encouraged to feel the very same sensational nervous impact of loud rhythmic music on the body that they would experience in a large, worldly pop concert, complete with replicated lighting and atmosphere. At the same time they reflect on predestination and election. Worldly culture provides the bodily, emotional feelings, into which Christian thoughts are infused and floated. Biblical sentiments are harnessed to carnal entertainment. (Pictures of this conference on their website betray the totally worldly, showbusiness atmosphere created by the organisers.)

For more examples: Church Growth Hypocrisy