“. . . Is it possible that our criteria for such decisions are out of line with the Lord’s? What if he wants our present church commitment to be a dominating priority, and we relegate it to a matter of small importance? Will this not make all ideas of guidance an empty delusion? Clearly, it is vital for us to know the ‘rating’ our existing church commitment should be given on our scale of priorities. This article will show that some of the other guidance factors are subservient to this . . .”
When loyalty is wrong
Although loyalty to the local church is a biblical duty, there are circumstances in which loyalty is misplaced, and believers should leave. The painful irony is that some Christians show little loyalty to their church when God commands them to cleave to it, and amazing loyalty when God tells them to leave it. To know when loyalty is commanded, and when it is not, is a crucial aspect of divine guidance. Thousands of believers have remained trapped in apostate denominational churches where the Truth has long been derided and compromised, because they misunderstood loyalty and placed it before Truth.
The fact is that in his Word God constantly calls his people out of dead and unworthy churches, but numerous believers appear not to notice. They deprive themselves of sound ministry, strengthen the hands of false teachers (the Lord’s enemies), and lose years of fruitful service by remaining in unsound churches. The biblical command that we should stay clear of all false teaching and apostasy is not merely negative, but is a positive and constructive act of spiritual obedience, safeguarding the true Gospel message and protecting the doctrinal purity of the people of God. The work of the Gospel is seriously hampered by the fact that many of the Lord’s people are spread thinly around in compromised or completely dead and apostate churches. If they would only regroup to stand behind sound, Gospel-preaching churches, these would be vastly more effective. The biblical call to separate from error is God’s own call to his people, and to obey it is a response of love leading to positive blessing.
Consider the many texts in which we are told not to associate with churches and ministers who deny the fundamentals of the true faith, such as the infallibility of the Bible, and the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. In Romans 16.17 Paul commands that we ‘mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.’ Should we worship and work in churches with false teachers? Should we listen to and support ministers and clergy who do not wholeheartedly believe and teach the Gospel? The inspired apostle writes: ‘Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed’ (Galatians 1.8). Apostate churches and preachers are (says Paul) ‘the enemies of the cross of Christ’ (Philippians 3.18). The apostle John (in 2 John 10-11) lays a solemn charge upon us, saying of ministers and clergy who reject true evangelical doctrine – ‘If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.’
Are we assisting non-evangelical teachers? Have we not realised that in God’s sight we are assisting his enemies? The scriptures quoted are God’s authoritative commands to us, telling us to leave wrong church connections. We should not say, ‘Well, I’ll think about it, and see if the Lord leads me.’ He has led us already.
In 1 Timothy 4.1 we are warned that ‘in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.’ False teaching will enter many churches, and take them over. How should true believers respond? Says Paul, ‘If any man…consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness … from such withdraw thyself’ (1 Timothy 6.3-5). We are to ‘shun’ false teaching (2 Timothy 2.16).
The command to believers to keep themselves completely apart from Bible-denying error is also expressed in 2 Corinthians 6.14-17: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
The purpose of our reviewing these biblical passages is to show that God has already provided ample guidance on this issue. The matter is already settled for us in Scripture. If a church teaches or allows fundamental error, or associates supportively with those that do, we have a duty to appeal for repentance and correction, and if there is no response, to leave.
These scriptures apply not only to churches, but also to a Christian Union in our college or firm if that society has non-evangelical committee members and speakers. Nor should we support evangelistic crusades that have committee members and ministers on the platform who are opposed to evangelical Truth, and which refer their ‘converts’ to unsound churches. In all these matters we already have clear guidance in the Word. Other issues also call for withdrawal from churches and CUs, such as their use of contemporary worship styles, contrary to James 4.4, or the adoption of charismatic ways, following post-biblical visions. (The author covers these in Worship or Entertainment?, The Charismatic Phenomenon and The Healing Epidemic.)