The necessity for separation

The basis of separation

The notion of separation is rooted in the nature of God, that is, of who he is:

Leviticus 11:44b (KJV) ye shall be holy; for I am holy:

We see this principle played out here when believing Israel (Abraham) separates from unbelieving Israel (Lot):

Genesis 13:9, 11-12 (KJV) Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left… Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

The meaning of separation

Separation does not mean isolation. Rather it denotes belonging and the desire to honour. Put another way, it is not about who we avoid but where our calling lies:

Romans 1:1 (KJV) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Separation for the work of the ministry

Separation is the basis of the work of the ministry:

Acts 13:2 (KJV) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

This separation, and the ministry work which follows it, is grounded in the fact that the world is no longer the saint’s spiritual home…

Philippians 3:20a (KJV) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

…and that it is therefore no longer where their affections lie:

Colossians 3:1-3 (KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Three types of separation commanded

1.      Moral separation: separation from sinful lifestyles:

Romans 13:12-14 (KJV) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Ephesians 5:11 (KJV) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

There are three reasons for the saint to separate from a sinful lifestyle:

a.      Said lifestyle contradicts who they now are in Christ i.e it belongs to the old man:

Colossians 3:8-10 (KJV) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

b.      The saint’s body belongs to Christ and is his temple:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV) 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.

c.      Immoral behaviour corrupts the church

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 (KJV) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

2.      Doctrinal separation: separation from false teachers and teaching:

Romans 16:17 (KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 (KJV) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Titus 3:10 (KJV) A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

“…avoid them”, “…from such withdraw thyself”, “…from such turn away”, “…reject” = separation.

False teaching is one of the good reasons for leaving (separating from) a church.  Teaching which distorts or denies what God is doing today robs him of the glory due to him, and a church permitting it undermines the saints’ faith:

1 Timothy 1:19 (KJV) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

3.      Disciplinary separation: separation from disorderly believers

It is sometimes necessary for a believer to be excluded from a fellowship:

1 Corinthians 5:11, 13b (KJV) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. …Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (KJV) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

This separation is intended to be temporary only, with the purpose of the later restoration of the saint to the fellowship:

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (KJV) And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Galatians 6:1a (KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;

1. and 2. above are the responsibility of each saint individually, while 3. is the responsibility of the bishops and elders of the church. If 3. is not implemented when required, then 2. becomes applicable, as a fellowship permitting sin to go unchallenged is another of the good reasons to separate from it.