Valid biblical separation practiced biblically

When we think of biblical separation, we often think of separating from sin and false teachings. We have lots of warnings in the NT to separate from both those things, but only a few examples of the right way to do so.

Let's always go to the source first. Here is Jesus' take.

NASB - Matthew 18:15-20

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

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Often, those who emphasize the doctrine of separation are so eager to separate that they jump right to the bolded part, skipping all the previous steps, especially the first one.

But loving rebuke isn't about making an example of folks or purging all sinful behaviour from the church. It isn't about gossiping about the actions of a person behind their back.

It is about approaching a person privately first to give them a chance to change and enter into right relationship with Christ. If they refuse, you don't broadcast it to everyone. But two or three who also care for this sinning brother and sister, wanting to help them right their relationship with God. All the while, giving them time to struggle and wrestle with God and the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sin. The whole church is a last resort and if he still refuses, then we separate.

I think part of bringing in two or three and then the whole church is also to check in case we who are rebuking is the one who is at fault instead of the accused.

But if they repent down the road, we should welcome them back as a prodigal son with the forgivess that Christ has given to us.

NASB - Luke 17:1-4

He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, `I repent,' forgive him."

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Unfortunately, most have used the doctrine of separation to justify their exclusion of those who disagree with them, completely missing the point of the separation which is to help the accused return to fellowship in Christ's body.

There is the element of holiness that we are to pursue. And separating ourselves from sin and false doctrine is part of being in right relationship with God. But we need to change our "me" centredness and be more like Christ in his example of separation being not just for ourselves, but to help those who we are separating from.

lambslove said:

I don't think I ever heard of a church tossing someone out merely because they disagreed on some minor point.

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I think this is more of a Baptist problem.

lambslove said:

I know of only two cases of shunning in my whole life. One was a man who left his wife and children to move in with another woman and who refused to repent and even tried to bring the other woman to church, the very church his wife and children attended, and the other was a woman who was bisexual and had seduced or propositioned several other women in the church. Both were confronted privately, then with the elders, then with a larger group of discrete church members, then were asked to leave when they absolutely refused to repent. Both eventually repented after a short time of being out of fellowship and returned to relationship with the church. By the way, the women who were seduced were also lovingly confronted by the pastor and they all repented immediately and were returned immediately to fellowship. The woman who was living with the married man was never a Christian and when she was confronted told the elders where they could go.

You are exactly right, the purpose of shunning is to make the person realize that their sin is separating them from a good relationshp with Christ and that they need to repent and be returned to fellowship with Him, no matter where they end up going to church.

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It sounds like you guys have got it right.

Street Preacher said:

http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foundation/fbcsepr2.htm

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I think sites like those are excellent examples of how to practice separation unbiblically. Thanks.