Kevin wrote: > Are you familiar with the Doctrine of separation? Yes, but it probably is not the same as the doctrine of separation that you embrace.
Kevin wrote: > Surely you must be David. I find that there is > a clear COMMAND for Christians to avoid > those that are in sin but also those that are in > darkness. There is a difference in how separation is practiced among believers and among those who are not believers. It seems to me that some of the Corinthians misunderstood the doctrine of separation in the same way that you misunderstand it. Consider the following passage where Paul clarifies how this separation is to be practiced: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. Therefore, we see here that a different attitude is taken toward a brother in Christ who continues in sin, and those in the world who have not yet believed upon Christ. There is a form of toleration that we ought to practice as we evangelize the world. Note also that the last time we discussed this on TruthTalk, you never were able to come up with a passage that shows that believers should excommunicate anyone for embracing a false doctrine. Excommunication appears to be a form of discipline for believers who continue to sin, but not a form of discipline for false teaching. False teachers are dealt with by correcting them, and if they fail to change their error, marking them. Kevin wrote: > ... God wants His people to be a Pure people on the > inward (sin vs holiness) & the outward. Even the > appearance of evil, He never once allowed His people > to associate with those outside of His Covenant Relationship. You need to rethink this. The Torah makes mention of strangers many times, and it often gives laws that allow certain things to be done with those outside of the Covenant versus those inside the Covenant (e.g., loaning with interest, slavery, etc.). I know that you are probably thinking of the command to kill everyone, but that is not the whole story. Now in the church, we should make sure that we fellowship only with those in the Covenant. That is what church is for. Therefore, there is a different level of separation going on in regards to the church than there is in a public forum like TruthTalk or a classroom at a public high school or college. Kevin wrote: > Is this optional? And have no fellowship with the > unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove > them. I consider "reproof" to be a form of tolerance when contrasted with burning people at the stake. Maybe we are talking about two different things when we speak of tolerance. Let me give you an example concerning sodomy. God's law says these homosexuals should be put to death. I reprove homosexuals, and when I do, they rant and rail and spit in my face and often physically attack me. I turn the other cheek and continue my reproof. I consider my actions to be tolerance in that if I were to follow the letter of God's law then I would kill them. Can you see how I practice tolerance towards homosexuality? I don't accept homosexuality as anything other than a crime, but because man's law now thinks otherwise, I practice tolerance as I testify against it. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
