It may seem strange and very negative to have a statement on our website about the things we are against. However, in these days of "itching ears" we deem it to be both necessary and proper for us not only to say what we are for but also what we are against. Sadly, few people today appear to be against anything and consequently just about "anything" seems to be acceptable among the people of God. This ought not to be so, and it is our prayer that as you read our statement on separation you will understand that actually such an attitude is healthy, not sickly, and is truly positive, not negative, for thus truth is preserved among the Lord's people. Our statement does not mean that we do not care for the spiritual good of those people caught up in these movements. We do, and it is our prayer that many would come out from among them.
Ebenezer Reformed Baptist Church not only stands for the Articles of Faith given in our Constitution but we believe that it also behoves us to plainly state those things which we are against (Acts 20:29-31). In order to do this we will first state our belief in the Biblical doctrine of separation. Secondly, we will give examples of movements that we believe to have deviated from sound Bible doctrine and are therefore dishonouring to the LORD. The list will not be exhaustive as many movements abound in our day and numerous other movements are likely to come into being, however these will exemplify our stand on the biblical doctrine of separation.
THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF SEPARATION
Believers are described in the Scriptures as "saints", meaning sanctified, or set apart for the LORD. It follows that we cannot be set apart for God without at the same time being set apart from sin, worldliness, and the enemies of Truth.
One of Satan’s chief strategies for the destruction of faithful evangelicalism has been the way of infiltration and compromise. An Old Testament example of this is the counsel that Balaam gave to the Moabites to intermarry with the seemingly invincible Israelites in order to bring them down (Numbers 22-24). Today, worldliness in worship, the toleration of unsound doctrine, a lack of holiness in the lives of believers, and an unwillingness to break compromised ecclesiastical associations is leading to the ruination of many churches and causing confusion as to the true gospel of grace.
While being obedient to this Scriptural doctrine is not an easy path to tread, needing much care and wisdom and creating much hostility from those who are happy to compromise, it is nevertheless essential if we are to be faithful stewards of the Word.
Some of the Scriptures which teach the necessity of holy living in all personal and ecclesiastical associations and relationships are: Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Titus 2:14; James 4:4-5; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 2:15-17.
Such a doctrine as this may be objected against as being overly negative. In defence we contend that this is to misunderstand the doctrine properly. Separation is as positive as any cleansing, preserving process, for it keeps alive precious purity and biblical obedience in the churches of Jesus Christ. We should never lose sight of the fact that we are saints, and thus dedicated and committed to the Lord and to His Word.
In light of the aforementioned, Ebenezer Reformed Baptist Church will NOT have ecclesiastical fellowship with those who hold to:
THEOLOGICAL LIBERALISM. This is the movement that denies or questions the doctrines of the faith (e.g., the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the creation of man by divine fiat, the depravity of man, the judgement of God upon the reprobate, the substitutionary death of Christ, the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the doctrine of hell...etc) and affirms that man’s highest responsibility is the social welfare of his fellowman, spawning such movements as liberation theology, syncretism, universalism, etc.
ECUMENISM. This is the organised attempt to bring about the co-operation and unity of all that claims to be "Christian" and extends itself to bring unity to all religions. This movement fosters unity with the Church of Rome, Anglicanism and other apostate denominations which have forsaken the doctrines of grace. It is advocated internationally by the World Council of Churches and supported by many mainstream denominations nationally.
ECUMENICAL EVANGELISM.This is an endeavour which seeks to promote the gospel, but in so doing, violates biblical principles through the creation of unequal yokes with theological liberals and, or Roman Catholics and other divergent groups.
NEO-ORTHODOXY. This is the movement which, while affirming the transcendence of God, the finiteness and sinfulness of man, and the necessity of supernatural divine revelation of truth, seriously departs from orthodoxy, redefines biblical terminology, accepts the views of destructive higher criticism, denies the inerrancy of the Scriptures as historic revelation, accepts religious experience as the criterion of truth, and abandons other important truths of the Christian faith.
NEO-EVANGELICALISM. This is the philosophical movement which subjects co-operation in ministry to social and spiritual need rather than biblical authority. It endeavours to infiltrate society with a "respectable" gospel through emphasising toleration and theological pragmatism. It seeks to present a united voice in evangelism by bringing together theological liberals and conservative evangelicals in co-operative efforts and movements.
THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT. This is a movement emphasising religious experiences such as the "baptism of the Holy Ghost", accompanied by speaking in tongues and miraculous sign gifts at the expense of biblical authority and sound biblical interpretation. The movement is ecumenical in the sense given above.
Since preoccupation with charismatic gifts has divided and destroyed churches, compromised vital and essential Bible doctrines, and dissipated the strength, motivation, and vision of many for true, biblical worship and evangelism; and since the present-day Charismatic Movement is contrary to God’s Word, we therefore do not accept or retain as members anyone of Ebenezer Reformed Baptist Church who participates in this movement or who privately practices speaking in "tongues".
ARMINIANISM. The system of theology known as Arminianism departs from Scripture on such fundamental Gospel doctrines that we reject it, not merely as a different emphasis upon the Gospel but as a different "gospel" altogether. It dethrones God by making His action in salvation entirely dependant upon the so-called freewill of man. It thus robs God of His Sovereign power in grace and salvation, and in a very real sense therefore, it can properly be called "theological atheism". Moreover, Arminianism holds that the Lord Jesus died for all men without exception, although only believers are saved. In other words, Christ has made salvation possible for all men, but in reality has procured it for no man. This is a clear denial of the plain teaching of our Lord Himself when He said, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep...And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:11,28). The fruit of such teaching is manifest in a corruption of true Gospel preaching and the resultant spurious conversions which further corrupt and dilute the church which is called to be salt and light in the world.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye seperate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty".
2 Corinthians 6:17-18.
