TBC Doctrinal Class - Separation (Part 18)

S TAT E M E N T 1 8 THE DOCTRINE OF SEPARATION S TAT E M E N T 1 8 We believe in the separation of the local church from groups which are guilty of apostasy or heresy. e.g., We have no part with the following movements: a. The World Council of Churches and affiliates. b. Roman Catholicism (Galatians 1:8) c. The modern day Charismatic Movement (Titus 3:10-11) d. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Herbert W. Armstrong, and other cults (2 John 9-11). Statement 18 connects to Statement 17 and our being an independent church. Statement Statement 17 We believe in the independence of the local church from any other church, denomination, or the State (Acts 15:25-29). WHY DO PEOPLE PUT UP FENCES? ARE FENCES RESTRICTIVE? ARE FENCES RESTRICTIVE? CAN FENCES BE UNLOVING? CAN FENCES BE UNLOVING? ARE FENCES A L W AY S UNLOVING? Photo: T1GSheila What is Statement 18 about? We believe in the separation of the local church from groups which are guilty of apostasy or heresy. e.g., We have no part with the following movements: a. The World Council of Churches and affiliates. b. Roman Catholicism (Galatians 1:8) c. The modern day Charismatic Movement (Titus 3:10-11) d. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Herbert W. Armstrong, and other cults (2 John 9-11). What 18 statement is not teaching toward persons in the following groups: a. The World Council of Churches and affiliates b. Roman Catholicism c. The modern day Charismatic Movement fi d. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Herbert W. Armstrong, and other cults • extreme shunning • abusive language • vili cation • violence De nitions of vilify: original definition: “to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vilify. accessed 22 August 2026 modern de nition of vili cation: an act that is reasonably likely to “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate” someone because of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or gender identity fi fi fi https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/human-rights/glance-racial-vilification-undersections-18c-and-18d-racial. accessed 22 August 2026 What is the relationship of separation to love? • Love and separation are opposites . (e.g., Loving people never separate from anything.) • Love and separation are the same thing . (e.g. If you love someone, you separate from them.) • Love and separation sometimes relate as cause and effect. (e.g., Because I love my wife, I keep separate from other women.) What is the relationship of separation to love? Is separation biblical? 2 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, Isaiah 52:11 (ESV) Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her [Babylon]; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. Is separation biblical? Revelation 18:4 (ESV) Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; Galatians 1:8–9 (ESV) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one 9 we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Is separation biblical? Titus 3:10 (ESV) As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, Romans 16:17 (ESV) 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. Is separation biblical? 2 John 7–11 (ESV) For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. . . . 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Note: Church discipline is a form of separation. 1 Corinthians 5:2b (ESV) Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV) But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 1 Corinthians 5:13 (ESV) God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” What is worthy of separation? “We believe in the separation of the local church from groups which are guilty of apostasy or heresy.” •threats to the Gospel message •threats to Gospel unity Scripture commands separation from certain threats. •threats to the Gospel message (Galatians 1) •threats to Gospel unity (Titus 3) •threats to Gospel practice (Gal. 2:11-14; Paul rebukes Peter) What is apostasy? apostasy: to fall away; to defect apostasy: the total rejection of Christianity by a baptized person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith, publicly rejects it. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ apostasy. accessed 20 August 2026 1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, Example of Separating from Apostasy The Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC) separated from the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) in 1937 over their refusal to license only ministers who would affirm the following: The Inerrancy of the Scriptures The virgin birth (and the deity of Jesus) The doctrine of substitutionary atonement The bodily resurrection of Jesus The authenticity of Christ's miracles What is heresy? heresy: Commonly, aberrant doctrine or opinion arising within the Church in opposition to biblical revelation or apostolic tradition Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, p 577. Titus 3:10–11 (ESV) As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, Damnable heresy vs. simple heresy 2 Peter 2:1 (ESV) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 1 Corinthians 11:18b–19 (ESV) I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19for there must be factions [lit. heresies] among you in order that those who are genuine [lit. approved] among you may be recognized. What is the di erence between apostasy and heresy? Apostates as not Christians. They are going to hell unless they repent because they have turned away from the Saviour. ff Heretics may still be Christians if their error or controversy does not deny any doctrine necessary for salvation. I.e., Not every error or controversy is fatal. What are examples of heresies that don’t necessarily send people to hell in the NT? Titus 3:9–11 (ESV) But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, 10 for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Observations: 1. Just because a heresy doesn’t send you to hell does not mean it cannot wreck your life. 2. Sometimes a simple heresy is a gateway to a series of heresies or to apostasy. What are examples of modern heresies that don’t necessarily send people to hell? • substandard view on inspiration • translation worship • conspiracy theories • evolutionary view of Creation • infant baptism; sprinkling • deficient view of the Church (e.g., home church movement) • erroneous views on speaking in tongues Why do we separate? 1. Separation arises from God’s holiness. 2. Separation arises from God’s love/Fatherly concern for His children. Separation arises from God’s holiness. Leviticus 20:26 (ESV) You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. Leviticus 20:23–24 (ESV) And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them. 24But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. Part of God’s holiness is His allergic reaction to evil (and His intense attraction to moral good). Psalm 45:6–7a (ESV) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of 7 uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Separation arises from God’s holiness. 2 Corinthians 6:17; 7:1 (ESV) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 1Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. What are Christians to separate from in 2 Corinthians 6? 2 Corinthians 6:14–16a (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has 15 light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an 16 unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; What are Christians to separate from in 2 Corinthians 6? 2 Corinthians 6:14–16a (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has 15 light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an 16 unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; Note: We cannot completely separate from everything non-Christian in the world. 1 Corinthians 5:9–11 (ESV) I wrote to you in my letter not to 10 associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go 11 out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. Separation arises from God’s fatherly love. 2 Corinthians 6:16–18 (ESV) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and 18 touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Scripture often invokes the loving parent/child relationship when commanding separation. Galatians 1:1–4 (ESV) Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father . . 3 . To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from 4 God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Separation arises from God’s loving care for His people. Leviticus 20:26 (ESV) You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. Leviticus 20:23–24 (ESV) And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for 24 they did all these things, and therefore I detested them. But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. What do loving parents separate their children from? • child abusers/criminals • dangerous drugs • caustic/poisonous household chemicals • mould/environmental toxins • the neighbour’s animals • vehicle traffic on the road • unlimited access to firearms • bullies in the neighbourhood/school • financial fraudsters/scammers What do we call parents who will not separate their children from harm/danger/threats? •oblivious •distracted •negligent •irresponsible •unloving •uncaring •failures News ash: fl Every human already practices separation in his/her everyday life! God applies the human practice of separation to the spiritual realm—to His spiritual family! Separation is practiced on a continuum. • private questions (pre-separation) • private confrontation (pre-separation) • public confrontation (pre-separation) • cessation of fellowship/worship • public statement of differences • public rebuke • public denunciation of apostasy or heresy Separation can be dangerous. 1. Separation is not the “good news” of the Gospel. 2. Separation is not the main response to the story line of the Bible. The main response is “be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20b). Separation is what we do when the good news of reconciliation to God through Christ gets muddled, distorted, or denied. Separation can be dangerous. 3. Separation can become an obsession. It becomes the silver bullet for every difference between Christians. 4. Separation can become a source of self-righteousness. 5. Separation can become sin when it is used to disregard all of the NT emphases on unity (John 17; Eph. 4:2-6), sharing the same mind (Rom. 12:16; 15:5; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 2:2; 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:8), and welcoming Christians with minor differences (Romans 14). Remember the Bible Presbyterian Church? • 1937 separated from mainline Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) over liberal theology/modernism • 1937 separated from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) over eschatology, mission board and cultural issues (communism and alcohol) • 1956-7 split into 2 synods: Columbus Synod becomes Evangelical Presbyterian Church (1961) • 1970s split over exclusive psalmody & abstinence from alcohol • 2008 split results in Faith Presbytery, Bible Presbyterian Church