Lay the Blame Where it is Deserved - Godly separation

"Divisions and separations are most objectionable in religion. They weaken the cause of true Christianity ...But before we blame people for them, we must be careful that we lay the blame where it is deserved. False doctrine and heresy are even worse than schism. If people separate themselves from teaching that is positively false and unscriptural, they ought to be praised rather than reproved. In such cases separation is a virtue and not a sin." -- J.C. RYLE

"Bad theology will eventually hurt people and dishonor God in proportion to its badness." -- John Piper (A Godward Life Volume Two, pg. 377)

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I've recently run into a few folks who have questioned my belief of Christian "separation" and the overall "biblicity" of the entire matter. Perhaps it's just the way I come off, but people seem to take offense at my willingness to separate from what I feel is 'bad theology'. Mind you, I don't claim to have omniscience or infallibility in my decisions...but I'm also not deaf, blind, and dumb when it comes to the foundations of the faith. This handbook of Faith that we have (the Bible), is pretty clear about some things...one of them being - SEPARATION.

"If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." - 1 Tim 4:6-8

"As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." - 1 Tim 1:3-5

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Col 2:8

Through my conversations about this, the question inevitably comes down to this: 'What constitutes a seperatable offense?' Or to put it differently, 'How far is too far?' And that's what I'm trying to decide. But I care not to decide upon anything by my own feeble intellect, feelings, or emotional responses to peoples or theological systems. My hope is in the Word, and it alone. And those systems that are based 'outside' of scripture (ie. extra-biblical) - are quick to gain my separatist glare. Am I too quick with the Sword? Can you be too quick with the Sword? Call me out, please. Rebuke me to my face, that I may turn and repent -- or join me in praising God for his revelations of Truth in 2 Corinthians 6:17, where the Word exhorts:

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

So as far as 'bad theology' goes, I don't have it all figured out, but here are some biggies that Monergism highlights: Synergism - Seeker Sensitive - Four-Point Calvinism - Forseen Faith - No Lordship - Legalism - New Perspective on Paul - Open Theism - Religious Pluralism - HyperCalvinism - Finneyism - Oneness Pentecostalism - Word of Faith - Liberal Theology. I will add a footnote here - Not all 'bad theology' requires IMMEDIATE separation. It should definitely be on the list, but "reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16) should be our primary aim. Only when these are rejected, does separation become an option.

What do y'all think? Unity for the sake of unity?

Bro. Hank ><>

P.S. - If you haven't taken this heretic quiz - take a few moments and find out if I need to separate from you...lol.