Scriptural Doctrine on Fellowship and Separation

Although the Bible tells us of the great apostasy, and we therefore expect it, it is no easier to watch.  I thought I would post a little study I did in the last couple of days for myself.

Some Scriptural facts about fellowship

Acts 2:42:    Fellowship and Bible doctrine are inseparable.

2Corinthians 8:4 and Philippians 1:5:    Fellowship is co-operation.

2Corinthians 3:10:    Fellowship is co-experience.

Philippians 2:1-2:    Fellowship is like-mindedness.

1Corinthians 1:9:    Supreme fellowship is with God’s Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  All other fellowship must bow (submit) to my fellowship with my Lord Jesus.  My ultimate fellowship focus must be on Christ and His Word.

1John 1:3, 6, 7:    Fellowship is only in mutual love of the Truth.  Two fellowship directions are spoken of in these verses—(1) toward God, and (2) toward men.  God focused fellowship can be represented by a triangle, with God at the pinnacle, and you and me on each of the two converging vertices.  The closer you and I fellowship with the Lord the closer our fellowship will be with each other.  This is God-centered inter-relationships and is the Biblical model—the will of God for our relationships.

The other model—man made—is man focused fellowship.  If I make fellowship with you priority one, then that will inevitably cause a break in fellowship between me and my Lord Jesus.  And, what is more to the core of this subject, my heart would not be fixed in love on God (Luke 10:27) but on you.  Consider the fallacious Christian fundamentalist mantra of “agreeing to disagree.”  This is the mindset of man centered fellowship.  To keep fellowship active in fundamentalist ranks, even amongst the wide doctrinal spectrum encompassed by the title “independent Baptist,” it requires that I set aside all dividing doctrines.  The result is SIN, DISLOYALTY, and inevitable APOSTASY against my Lord Jesus Christ.

Some Scriptural facts about separation

2Corinthians 6:14:    A covenant relationship (yoked—business, marriage, church, etc.) between a child of God or a church of God with unbelief, unrighteousness, and darkness (lies) is absolutely prohibited.

Ephesians 5:11:  Fellowship with the works of darkness is prohibited.  Dis-fellowship is not to be passive and silent (i.e. I’ll just mind my own business), but, reprove!, active and vocal.

Romans 16:17-18:  Separation from those ‘in church’ requires marking (exposing publicly), avoiding (purposeful, active) and recognition of the ungodliness of such as cause divisions contrary to Bible doctrine.

The fundamentalist movement began in the late 1800's as an inter-faith movement to combat unbelief.  But, to get a consensus for action amongst the Protestants and Baptists that were drawn into this movement all groups participating in this movement had to keep their mouths shut about any doctrine that the other groups co-operating disagreed with.  Hence, the frequent use of the phrase, 'let us agree to disagree.'  Baptists that involved themselves with the inter-faith fundamentalist movement broke God's Biblical commands regarding separation.  Consequently, Baptists are in a very advanced state of doctrinal-spiritual decay.  It is imperative that those of us who have ears to hear heed this warning and seek the Lord, strengthen ourselves in the most holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep ourselves abiding in the love of God by joyful obedience to His Word, continually be looking for the mercy of our Lord.


Ephesians 5:1-20.