Separation from People?

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Romans 16:17

It may seem amazing. In the context and climate of so-called tolerance and acceptance and especially the emphasis on grace, that such a teaching is taught in Scripture. Are we to separate from people? Is that what Paul is really teaching? How we decide will show our handling for God’s word. It is the conviction that the bible is to be taken as it is: the preserved Word of God, and as such, it means what it says and says what it means, no matter what culture, or people or opinions may think.

Although it is the clear teaching of Scripture, that as believers we are always to seek reconciliation and unity, and we need to do all we can to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, the Lord tells us through His apostle that when the word of God is compromised, when there are divisions and offences between people because of His Word, we are to make a stand against the tide of compromise and sin.

When the word of the Lord, and the Spirit of the Word have been compromised, we are not to stand by and adopt a neutral stance – we are to stand clearly, boldly and strongly against these doctrines that are contrary to the apostolic doctrines because it is causing divisions and offences.

Why does the Lord require us to do so? It is because His word is a statement of His character, His will and His purpose. What Christ says, we are to do. It is not the word of man, but the word of God. We will feel a guilty conscience if we litter, or do something that we know is stated that we should not do. Yet, when the word of God is compromised, are we not to rise up in arms against the offence? It is said that the breaking of God’s word is high treason against the God of Heaven because through the actions, we declare that we are on Satan’s side. “Whosoever is not for me is against me”. When we do not stand firmly against doctrines that will harm the church, and the Christians, we are on the side of sin and Satan.

We are to avoid these people. Why so? Because evil communication corrupts good manners. How many good people and Christians have been defiled by the world and its ways when they remain in the same company? So many churches have been broken and divided because of offences contrary to the word of God taught? This is the teaching of the apostle Paul.

The trend of scripture is that all Christians and especially church members should be one with each other, united both in mind and heart and purpose for the Lord Jesus. Yet when a brother or sister would by their word or trend of life teach and influence others with teachings contrary to that of our Saviour and the apostle, we are to identify them and avoid them for the purpose of standing for truth, admonishing them and also to preserve the biblical purity of the local church. It is also for the purpose of reconciliation – that through the separation, the offending brethren may see the error of their ways and return to the Lord.

We as believers are never to be offensive to anyone: but our position of standing on the truth of God, may lead us to appear offensive to people. That is never our intention, but it may be the cross we need to carry as we strive to obey the word of God.

Written by: Pastor Johnny Tan