ON BEING A SEPARATIST!

ON BEING A SEPARATIST!

2 Cor 6:14-18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

On Thursday, the 64 year old evangelist, Franklin Graham wrote on his Facebook page, "The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved redefining marriage in the church constitution Tuesday to include a "commitment between two people," becoming the largest Protestant group to formally recognize gay marriage and allow same-sex weddings in congregations. In His Word, the Bible, God has already defined marriage, as well as sin, and we should obey that rather than looking for ways to redefine it according to the desires of our culture. Marriage is defined as between a man and a woman-end of discussion. Anything else is a sin against God, and He will judge all sin one day."

          Baptists have always been separatists! A study of our history reveals a desire to sustain a pure adherence to the Word of God and the truth found therein. Martyrdom has often been the result of such strict and stubborn choices.

          Should you separate yourself from your liberal church or denomination? Well, that is something you will need to decide both cautiously and carefully. However, when your church or denomination begins to abandon the truth perhaps leaving to find a more biblically based family of believers is warranted. The word “agreement” in verse 16 is the Greek word sugkatatithemai and it means “to deposit one’s vote or opinion in company with; to be in one accord with.”

Dear Lord, help us to see that sometimes it is necessary to separate ourselves from error so that we might remain closer to you. AMEN