DEVELOPING A SEPARATIST MENTALITY

  Following are excerpts from the article "Developing A Separatist Mentality" by John Cereghin, Dean of Men, Maryland Baptist Bible College.

 This article was printed in the MBBC Swordsman, Fall 1994:

 "The danger of the hour compels us to a full and proper understanding of separation. The storm swirls on every side ... The age demands a forceful and determined response from Fundamentalists and that response must be fixed upon separation. "We define separation as the withdrawal from doctrinal and practical error, motivated by a love for the holiness of God.

  Personal separation is the believer's avoidance of sin in his life. 

  Ecclesiastical separation is to withdraw from theological systems, organizations or individuals who hold incorrect doctrine or religious practice. "Compromise is subtle in its infiltration.   Many historic Fundamentalists who were supposed to be diligent in their watchman's towers missed the enemy until he appeared within the city gate. Ignorance and a naive spirit contributed to these failures. Fundamentalists must be fully educated and briefed upon the appearance and the modus operandi of the enemy. Ignorance is no excuse for compromise. "The Fundamentalist must also have the strength of his convictions. He must not allow himself to knuckle under from the intense and continual pressure from both the secular media or the Christian media.

 Some schools may attempt to influence a graduate's position through the alumni association. The `Old Ladies' Society` in some churches will attempt to pressure the pastor from a strong stand. Some Fundamentalists developed battle fatigue from the constant bombardment from the bleachers and surrendered without firing a shot. Others hardened their position every time someone attacked it. It has always taken a backbone to serve God, regardless of the age. The Fundamentalist must fight whether he wants to or not. When we were saved, we were drafted into the Lord's army. Soldiers are for fighting. Cowards, deserters and draft-dodgers no one respects in wartime. there is no such animal as a "non-militant Fundamentalist."

 "Charismatics base their `unity' on love and wind up with a magpie nest of error. New Evangelicals and Neo-Fundamentalists accuse the Fundamentalist of heart problems and of hating the brethren. Separatists do not hate, but they do not love error. We must never compromise a Biblical position so we may `build bridges.' God will bomb our bridges if love toward `the brethren' is more important to us than our love toward God. "With what spirit should we manifest and implement our separatism?

 It must be with both a militant spirit as well as a magnificent spirit. We are not mad at anyone although many of the brethren grieve us. We are upset with the world, the flesh and the devil. We do not hesitate to battle Satan wherever he raises his head. If sin is in the camp, expose it. If Achans dwell in the camp, they must be cut off if they refuse to repent. We must be militant but not solely for militancy's sake.

  There is a warfare, and truth is fallen in the street. The seriousness of the hour and the threat of the age must be met with a firm jaw and a determined heart. "Keeping up to date with what is going on is important. If knowledge is power, then ignorance is suicide. "We dare not neglect the godly spirit which we must manifest. Our motivation is the holiness of God.

 We do not strut our separatism as a barnyard rooster or as a peacock his plumage. We acknowledge that our virtue is not within ourselves but rather in the Book we hold dear and the demands of that Book. We fight and stand to warn those who may be allured and enticed into compromise. We also desire to rescue those who have fallen into the spiritual quicksand of compromise. We do all this for the Lord's sake and for His honor and glory, not for ours. Unless our separation is centered around these things, then our separatism amounts to nothing more than sounding brass and tinkling cymbals."

 From Way of Life Ministries