Sectarianism or Separatism:
Self-examination
by Pastor Matthew E. Walker, 1 August 2006

There is much to like about Georgia—the southern climate, the fun of Atlanta affectionately known as “The Big Peach.” As one of the States that seceded from the Union during the American Civil War and joined the Southern Confederacy, Georgia was the only one to secede from them, the governor attempting to form a small monarchy.

As large of an impact that the Civil War has made on the American political landscape (slavery and the civil rights movement, State’s rights, Federalism, etc.), so as civil war that has been fought in evangelicalism for the past sixty years has had a much greater impact.

The early leaders of both factions are now with the Lord. Read that again. They are with the Lord. In a very real sense, they are no longer fighting each other. Because of the intense battle, the spiritual landscape has been radically altered. The pieces of the tattered rag that is American evangelicalism is barely holding together.

It seems that things have become so fragmented that every faction now holds a piece (KJV-only, Christian music, Southern Baptists, Independent Bible Churches, Free Presbyterians, and many others clutching at one or more part). Frankly, the situation has become so confusing that most Fundamentalists cannot possibly apply the Biblical doctrine of separation uniformly. Much of what is truly sectarianism is being shrouded in the righteous garb of Biblical separation.

I have friends in the ministry who clutch tightly to the KJV position and those who reject that as being the only position. While they both feel relatively comfortable working with me (as far as I know) they absolutely refuse to work with each other. I have other friends who will not work together because one is from a Bible (baptistic) church and the other is Baptist regardless of the fact that in essence, both churches are almost identical in doctrine and practice. I know this because I have been ordained in a Bible church and a Baptist church using the exact same doctrinal statement. Neither ordination council asked me any questions about my personal views of church polity—the only thing truly differentiating the one church from the other. In some way, American evangelicalism has adopted the attitude that Mark describes the disciples having in Mark 9:38.

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

What is interesting about this verse is that the protagonist is John, one of the original disciples, an author of much of the New Testament, and part of that special group of three which includes Peter and James who witnessed Jesus’s transfiguration. Mark 9:38 reveals that John, as a young disciple, struggled with the issue of Biblical separation.

Much later on in his ministry he would write two epistles that would have sections dealing with this particular subject and the manner in which he handles it shows how much he matured during his ministry. In 2 John there is the command to separate from those who teach doctrines contrary to revealed Scripture. We are not to even welcome them into our homes because when we do so we become a partner in their wickedness.

2 John 9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

On the contrary, 3 John shows that there is a form of separation that is not spiritual but carnal. The situation there involved a leader in the early church named Diotrephes. Apparently this man was someone who refused to welcome other Christians and even had the influence to discipline out of the church those who went against his authority and accepted John or Christians like him.

3 John 9-10 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

After considering these two important texts dealing with the doctrine of separation the question that naturally arises is this: How do I know when I am acting like Diotrephes or when I am being obedient in separating from another Christian? How am I to discern whether I am practicing Biblical separation or just being sectarian? I think that there are three things that will help me ensure that my decision is truly right in choosing to separate from another Christian.

The very first thing any believer should do before making a decision is to pray. Biblical separation is a spiritual activity. For the separating action to be right, it must be led by the Holy Spirit. James 1:5 teaches that since we all lack godly wisdom we should ask for it from God who has promised to give it to us. In this particular case, prayer for wisdom should include a submissive heart to the Lord’s direction. Remember, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humbling ourselves before the Lord is key to maintaining right earthly relationships. Diotrephes was an obviously arrogant man. His pride dictated his decisions after an ungodly manner. Prayer for God’s direction then is a prayer for the leadership of the Holy Spirit. How easy it would be for God to just lay out every exact instance we should apply Biblical separation. God doesn’t do that. Instead, true separation must begin by God’s Holy Spirit directing us that way. It would be much easier to “walk by sight” but God has not given us that luxury. We must separate by faith. Since Biblical separation is a command of God it must also be His will for us in certain situations. Seeking out the Holy Spirit’s leadership in an attitude of humble submissiveness to His will ensures that we will only separate at the right time and in the right manner.

The second thing a Christian must do before separating is to seek out Biblical examples or principles that might help us apply truth to our situation. The Psalmist instructs that God’s Word is a “lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Before choosing to separate from a fellow Christian I must have some good, sound, Biblical footing so that I do not slip up and fall spiritually. A good example of that is Paul’s confrontation of Peter in Galatians 2. What Paul was doing was applying the principle that he later expounds in Galatians 6:1-2. Instead of separating from Peter, Paul was confronting because the situation called for Biblical confrontation, not Biblical separation. At least not at that point. Those who are sectarian do not separate Biblically because they do not seek out Biblical precedent for their sectarian behavior. Diotrephes, if he was a man of the Word, should have known something of God’s anointing on the apostles and also the spirit by which a godly man separates himself from others. There is no possible way that a student of God’s Word would have done what Diotrephes did.

The final thing a Christian must do before separating is to evaluate his own heart to see what is motivating him to do so. What will he gain by separating? Is he really interested in the holiness of God or does it bring some sort of carnal enjoyment to him to “take a stand.” What personal sacrifices is he willing to make by separating? Understanding the motive is to understand the master. That is, you will understand who controls a person if you can see why he behaves in a certain way. Those who are controlled by God are those who are motivated to bring Him glory. That is completely different from those who seek to bring glory to themselves. Diotrephes is described as a man who “loves to have the preeminence.” That kind of spirit is rife in those who are sectarian.

Near the mid-point of the Civil War, November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave the dedicatory remarks at the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His short speech, known as the Gettysburg Address, was powerful as it pointed out the grand purpose of the war, to save freedom and democracy in the world. Lincoln was known as being ardently anti-secession and also in favor of a restored South. His favor toward the South almost cost him reelection while his war against the South ended up costing him his life. During that speech Lincoln said: “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us… that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain….” In that same sense we can say that our Christian forefathers who fought bravely the battle of separation have not died in vain. Though we are far removed from their own battlefield the principles that they fought for will be carried on nobly by us as we strive to give God the glory as long as we remain here. Let us just be sure that we are fighting for His glory and not ours. Let us be more like Lincoln and less like Georgia.