There has been a radical shift in my view of the Kingdom of God. I’m not really going in the direction of pre, post or a-mill with this post, though I have found that my view in that area HAS affected the way I see things today. I am more aiming towards how I view the body of Christ in the world today. My background (with the exception of a church or two that I attended) was incredibly strong on the proposition that the LOCAL church is all that really matters. The idea of “universal church” or my term “the Kingdom” were anathema. There were whole sermons preached (screamed) about this. We were fiercely independent. We were on our own, reaching the world for Christ. We were happy for other IFBX churches in other places, but that was about all we could muster even a smile for. Every other church in our town was really considered the enemy. Forget other denominations, heck, we were against most other Baptists! Because they failed to line up with us in some small area we really viewed them with disdain. If it looked like they were “successful” we would attribute it to “compromise” and being all about entertainment with no doctrinal substance. Forget “Bible” churches, “community” churches or other denominations. They were sell-outs, turn-coats, and not worthy to be even considered part of us! We really functioned as if we were on an island! An example that may seem extreme, yet it’s true… There was a church a block from ours that was named “Hilltop Community Church.” We renamed it “Hell-bottom” and it was referred to as this even by the church staff. I do not pretend that most IFB’s would act this way, this was one of the more radical churches I was a part of, yet the same general attitude was present in most churches I was exposed to.
All of that to say that there is such joy where the Lord has me today! I care deeply about core doctrine and I am unwilling to trade it in, yet I see a wide body of Christ, the Kingdom, and I can rejoice with what Christ is doing in so many different places and in different ways! I am THANKFUL that Christ is preached! I have become good friends and an admirer of several men who are Orthodox Presbyterian. I greatly respect the pastor of the local Christian Missionary Alliance and feel they are doing a wonderful work for the Lord in our community. I see HUGE benefits for the idea of being non-denominational as are some of my friends in “Bible” or “Community” churches. There are very good, Gospel preaching Methodist Pastors, I could go on and on! I am THRILLED to be part of the Kingdom! Our base church in Vineland is planting daughter a church in Bridgeton in association with the once hated Southern Baptists, and I’m having lunch on Friday with the Pastor of the local non-denominational church who wants to help us. We are naming the church ‘Emmanuel Bible Church’ though technically we would be “Baptist.” I wouldn’t trade where I am to return to where I was if you offered me the world. I was a paranoid little self-righteous Pharisee, who couldn’t see the beauty of God’s tapestry and the wonderful people who love him ALL around me! I’m so excited to be a part of the Kingdom!!! What is the coolest part of it is being able to be THRILLED when the CMA across town is growing, or when my OPC friend down the street is being blessed by the Lord! THEY are NOT my enemies!!! Praise the LORD for having my eyes opened in this area! You only have to go back about two generations to see most Orthodox Christians considering themselves one in Christ. Praise the Lord He is not building 50 denominations, rather, one KINGDOM!!!
I know that for some of our readers this all seems like stating the obvious, but many more will read these lines and identify fully with a mentality that looks down on EVERYONE! I believe that there are very few things more sickening in the eyes of the Lord than the Phariseeism in some of our circles. I remember the old quote when asked “What would you be if you were not a Baptist?” the cute reply was “I’d be ashamed.” I’m ashamed I EVER said that! Denominational pride is just as wicked as any other form of haughtiness or pride that God hates. We are to boast in Christ alone!!! It’s ALL about HIS Kingdom!
Disclaimer: Before anyone rushes to accuse me of broad-brushing, I would point you back to our permanent disclaimer and reiterate that I am simply describing MY experiences.
YES, there are things worth separating over! No, I’m not advocating throwing off the clear teachings of Scripture. No, I could never consider myself “inter-denominational” but am very comfortable with the idea of being “non-denominational.” I’m sure this wont be enough of a disclaimer, but please don’t read into the above paragraphs more than is actually there. I would gladly address any questions.
Tony
11 comments:
It's so freeing to joyfully be a part of the huge, global and glorious Kingdom of God and enjoy what He is doing all over the world and especially in places where we are not necessarily comfortable. Many times EXTREME fundamental churches are attempting to build their own little kingdoms that, quite frankly, have nothing to do with The Kingdom of God. As a matter of a fact, many of them hate the Kingdom of God because it looks nothing like the little kingdom they have built, and that brings with it some scary implications.
Amen and Amen! Some of my best ministry friends (we gather for prayer each month) are the pastors of the CMA, EV Free, and Presbyterian Churches in my city. Although I do not agree with them completely in all areas of doctrine, they are my brothers in Christ. God has chosen in His sovereignty to have a diverse, varied body. Which is made up of many different denominations. There is great joy in recognizing that I am only playing a small part in God's Kingdom.
My view of Christianity changed alot too! I used to think that if an IFB church didn't exist in a given city, then there would be no gospel witness! Now I am finding out that there are fundamental churches in other cities that I didn't even know existed...and they're the balanced kind that I used to think of as "compromisers"
Not only that, but I have learned about good Bible churches and non-denom churches that preach the gospel with even more clarity and zeal than the IFBX do!
I totally agree with your denouncing of "kingdom building", I have always hated that.
However, don't get sucked into ecumenecism as an extreme reflex.
Let me ask you, would you still consider yourself a separatist? If not, what would your Bible based view of separation be?
Hey Will,
I (and I only speak for myself) would not consider myself a separatist. In Scripture the only cause for separation is either unrepented sin (church discipline) or a violation of the gospel message, including its core doctrines. So as it relates to separating from other churches, ministries, personalities, etc...I would not separate over Scriptural interpretation. For that reason I have given up the title of being a historic fundamentalist. My doctrine would still be considered very conservative and baptistic, but I do not practice separatism. No one that I am aware of is consistent in how they practice separation. The IFBX crowd can't figure out who they can or can't hang with. Even conservative evangelicals like MacArthur, Piper, and Mohler can't figure it out either. Thankfully, I trust in the sovereignty of God in who He has chosen to adopt into His family. The early church was built on the theme, "Jesus is Lord." I try to keep that as the line of division for me.
Great post Tony. How true.
You can appreciate the wider kingdom, while still appreciating doctrinal distinctions and other factors which keep you separate from other Christian groups. You can even separate in a kind way, that affirms you are not writing people off as non-Christians.
Personally, I read Scripture and see separation as reserved for egregious error and blatant sin.
Blessings to all in Christ,
Bob
So, does someone who refuses to obey the command: "come out from among them (those in open sin or apostacy) and be ye separate"
constitute someone that is in "egregious error and blatant sin"?
This is a softball...
Of course. Open, unrepented sin is cause for separation. Apostasy, which in its Biblical context can only be described as denying the core tenants of Christianity, is also cause for separation. Thanks for tossing that one right over the plate:)
I agree with you, my idea of complete separation is only for those who are in unrepentant sin and apostasy. I agree that apostasy is someone who denies the fundamentals of the faith, not those with different interpretations of secondary issues.
Cooperation with those who have different views on those things is limited, but I wouldn't call it separation.
So...would Tony or Trevor answer my initial question when you get the chance? Thanks guys...look forward to hearing from you.
I would not separate from someone over a secondary issue and it would have to be totally blatant and egregious for me to separate at all in any situation. To that end I am not a separatist. As far as if I would separate from someone who refuses to separate from someone who is in obvious and core doctrinal error or in unrepentant sin (I believe that is correctly restated): I would try to handle that in an understanding way. Before 'separation' would ever enter my mind, I would try to understand what the relationship was and why. I would pray and seek wisdom in how to be a help. I would take a long look at myself and try to see if maybe I wasn't seeing this in a truly Christ-honoring and biblical way. I would spend some time with him and try to understand his perspective as best as I could, etc. Perhaps he has a very evangelistic purpose for the relationship. Perhaps he's this particular person's only chance to see Jesus lived out, etc. There are very few reasons I would separate from anyone at all (blatant and flippant unrepentant sin or extreme cardinal doctrinal error). If it ever came to that I would be much faster in coming back into relationship that I ever was in separating.
So to answer your second question: I would say that someone who refuses to separate from someone in blatant and unrepentant sin would not be in blatant or unrepentant sin themselves depending on the motive (the motive could be sinful and just as rebellious in which case I would have to deal with it accordingly). They may be the one true Christian who actually loves them and shows it. Why would I separate from that. That's the kind of Christian I want to be.
Anytime our relationships with unsaved people are motivated by the same purposes we shouldn't enter into those kind of relationships. We should always be motivated by the hope to glorify God in all our relationships, Christian and otherwise. I believe that's speaking more to the verse that you mention than being a 'separatist' Christian. We should be distinguished from the world in our motivations and purposes and never enter into relationships motivated by anything less or any less of a purpose. We should not be like the dead unrepentant world. We are separate from it and all it's motivations and lures of fame and fortune.
Hey Will, Just wanted your take on separation from the IFBX crowd that preaches a false gospel. You know... the easy prayerism crowd. PC not known as Politically Correct but pretty close down their in Lancaster, CA practices this false doctrine on a consistent basis. Unfortunately his To Seek and To Save book influences others to spread their shallow and false gospel. A few of the professions of faith obtained by he and his IFBx friends may actually be saved, but totally in spite of their message not because of it. Would you separate from these easy prayerism crowds that has inoculated much of America from the true gospel of repentance and faith? Preaching a false gospel definitely isn't a secondary issue! Sorry brother... this is not a soft ball, more like a loaded question. You can take the fifth if you want...
Brad,
I wrote a post on my blog about separation a week ago. The Lancaster folks don't preach a false gospel like, say the Mormons, but it's pretty watered down. You can still get saved by understanding their message. They are brothers, and I would limit my cooperation with them, but not totally separate, just like I would with those on the Evangelical side who are wrong in other areas.
But honestly, none of the IFBX are begging for my fellowship, they'll separate from me first...and I have already experienced that to some degree.
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