Small is the new big
At Southlake Baptist, we believe all Christians should be engaged in some type of small group Christian community. As writer Seth Godin said, “Small is the new big.” Let me explain. Read more
Ecclesiastical Separation, Part 5
While we would not recommend that younger men in our movement spend large amounts of time with the brother who is in error until they have a full and balanced view of theology, we ought to be able to sit across the table from or stand on a platform with someone with whom we are not in complete agreement and proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to people who are lost in their sins and headed to an eternal hell. Read more
Ecclesiastical Separation, Part 4
Psalm 119:63 says, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” The esteemed John R. Rice, founding editor of “The Sword of the Lord,” was a man of God who made no bones about the evils of modernist liberalism, yet he said that “on the authority of that verse I decided … that I would be for the man who is for Christ and the Bible. So I work with all people of God who are born again and live like it and believe the Bible and who are willing to work with other Christians.” (Dr. Rice Goes to College) Read more
Ecclesiastical Separation, Part 3
Recognize the difference
We must recognize the difference between heresy and error. We treat neither lightly, but we do not presume to treat brothers in Christ with whom we disagree about non-fundamentals the same way we separate ourselves from those who eviscerate the Gospel by denying its fundamental truths. Paul was very clear: There is to be no love lost with people who are perverting the Gospel and sending people to hell by their teaching. We do not have to be unkind, but those who pretend to be Christians yet are deceiving people about what is required for salvation, are to be anathema to us. Read more
Ecclesiastical Separation, Part 2
What does the Bible say about Ecclesiastical Separation?
We cannot, of course, engage in an exhaustive review of the relevant Scripture in this venue. We will, however, touch on texts that do speak to Ecclesiastical Separation and mention texts that are commonly misapplied. Not only is it important to understand what the Bible does say, but we also must recognize what it does not say and where it is twisted to mean things it does not mean. Read more