Comments on: do conservative ‘e’s separate?

By: ox

ox — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:18:50 +0000

One more thing… I would challenge anyone to find the leaders of Fundamentalism ever using Mt 18 or 1 Cor 5 as a biblical justification for their actions of separation in the 1950s/1960s. You can see lots of 2 Cor 6, 2 Jn, Titus 3, Romans 15, etc. I very much doubt you are going to find much reference to Mt 18 and 1 Cor 5.

I certainly was never taught those two passages with respect to separation in the 1970s by my fundamentalist professors.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

By: ox

ox — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:16:30 +0000

No, not at all…

I don’t believe Mt 18 and 1 Cor 5 are separation passages. Some are touting that today, I just don’t believe it addresses the issue, especially in direct application.

When it comes to separation, we are talking about the decision whether or not to participate together as ministry partners. Obviously if we are talking about two people who are members of the same church some local church issues are also going to come into play. However, it is a smokescreen to attempt to make these passages apply across the board to separation.

How can I put Billy Graham out of the assembly, not being a member of the same local church? I can’t. But I can choose not to be in ministry partnership with him.

That is a critical difference.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:03:27 +0000

So, Don, if Bob Jones had been a church elder and Bill Graham had been a church member, would Bob Jones have disciplined Billy Graham? I think the answer is yes.

You seem to be implying that Jones thought Graham’s strategy did not merit discipline. That’s very hard to believe.