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I was reflecting tonight on the years I spent in an independent, fundamentalist Baptist church.
I thank God for much of what was instilled in me in those formative years. Things like:
• Trust in God’s Word
• A love for missions and missionaries
• A heart for evangelism
I thank God for much of what was instilled in me in those formative years. Things like:
• Trust in God’s Word
• A love for missions and missionaries
• A heart for evangelism
At the same time, there were some really harmful things in that upbringing, some of the effects of which I still deal with today.
One of the worst aspects of that movement was an emphasis on second and third degree separation.
Here’s how it works:
One of the worst aspects of that movement was an emphasis on second and third degree separation.
Here’s how it works:
If Person A disagrees with Person C, he won’t associate with Person C. If Person B associated with Person C, even if agreeing with Person A, Person A won’t associate with Person B.
IFB folks justify this by claiming that they are remaining pure in their doctrine, holy, separate.
IFB folks justify this by claiming that they are remaining pure in their doctrine, holy, separate.
Under the guise of sticking with ‘sound doctrine,’ this approach causes them to end relationships, long term friendships, and live in a constant cloud of suspicion of others. Most importantly, this approach lacks love and fails to reflect the unity of the body of Christ.
True belief without love, as George Eldon Ladd put it, is not true belief.
In a day in which Christians face an increasingly hostile culture and where we are pushed further to the margins, we need to link arms with more, not fewer, fellow believers.
In a day in which Christians face an increasingly hostile culture and where we are pushed further to the margins, we need to link arms with more, not fewer, fellow believers.
‘They will know we are Christians by our love.’
But how can the world know our love when we draw the circle of fellowship tighter and tighter to exclude all who disagree with ‘my take’ about any issue whatsoever? Before long, the only ones left are me, myself, and I.
But how can the world know our love when we draw the circle of fellowship tighter and tighter to exclude all who disagree with ‘my take’ about any issue whatsoever? Before long, the only ones left are me, myself, and I.
This is why I have loved being a Southern Baptist for nearly the last two decades. The SBC is a ‘big tent’ that allows churches to cooperate together under the banner of Christ, the Scriptures, and a commitment to the Great Commission.
We cooperate despite disagreeing on many political, cultural, and even theological issues.
We have young, old, black, white, brown, many styles, Calvinists and non-Calvinists, pre-tribbers and ammillenialists, Charismatics and cessationists.
We have young, old, black, white, brown, many styles, Calvinists and non-Calvinists, pre-tribbers and ammillenialists, Charismatics and cessationists.
But we put aside these lesser theological differences because there are people around the world who need to hear the gospel, and the best way to get the gospel to them is to do it TOGETHER.
Frankly, it breaks my heart when I see some in our fellowship of churches exhibit the same separation views as my independent Baptist church did. It breaks my heart, because I’ve seen what that mentality does.
May God heal our divisions and bring us together for the mission!
May God heal our divisions and bring us together for the mission!
