Free Presbyterian Position on Ecclesiastical Separation

Statement from the Free Presbyterian Church in Ulster General Presbytery

This statement has been published and distributed to Free Presbyterian congregations

Our Stand on Separation

The Scriptures lay before Christ’s Church the will of God pertaining to the doctrine of separation. With regard to this doctrine the following points are made clear in God’s Word. (It is important to underline that the points outlined below that present the Biblical teaching on separation, constitute a summary of what the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has stated, believed and preached during its entire history).

1. The holiness of God is the undeniable root of separation at both a personal and an ecclesiastical level. God’s holiness is the essence of His very being, thus He is “glorious in holiness”, (Exodus 15: 11); and He is transcendently holy, so that “There is none holy as the Lord”, (1 Samuel 2: 2).

2. On the basis of His own holiness the Lord commands His people to be holy, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy”, (Leviticus 19: 2), (1 Peter 1: 16).

Biblical Separation and “Platform fellowship”

“Platform fellowship’ is a phrase coined to describe the artificial distinction some see in the relationship, or fellowship, experienced among participants in a conference situation. Sometimes this conference scenario primarily involves preaching, while in others it is primarily academic in nature. However, when a conference is theological or involves handling the truth of God in any form, it cannot simply be regarded as academic, whether it involves preachers or seminarians.

The concept of ‘platform fellowship’, as defined by many conservative evangelicals, allows them to justify in their own minds the freedom to associate with, worship with, preach with and lecture with those that, on a strictly Biblical basis, they should distance themselves from. It is in many ways an attempt to find a way for men to bring together what God has put asunder! …

Click here to read the rest of the article on the Stand Still A While Blog site by Rev Andrew Foster. 

Holding to the Old Paths

The quote below is taken from the writings of Charles Hodge, [1797-1878] who spent a considerable time labouring for the Lord at Princeton Seminary. He was the second Principal of the Seminary after the venerable Archibald Alexander. Charles Hodge so esteemed his predecessor that he named his son, Archibald Alexander Hodge, [A.A. Hodge] after him. 

In 1929 this renowned Seminary seriously departed from the old paths and forged a new way. It is a pity they didn't listen to one of their own:

Dr Joel Beeke's latest compromises

Please read this article written by Ralph Ovadal, pastor of Pilgrims Covenant Church, Monroe, Wisconsin. It is entitled:

What a Difference Six Months Does Not Make!

[Click on the title for the link]

It makes sad reading to learn of the array of New Calvinists, Romanists, feminists, Seventh-day Adventists etc that Joel Beeke is in association with by speaking at conferences where those who hold these views are included. How is this in keeping with the Scriptural teaching on separation?

Memorial service for bus crash victims involves rank ecumenist

A memorial service was held on 4th June in Carrickfergus Town Hall for those involved the Bryantang bus crash 20 years ago. Not everyone involved in that tragedy was invited along to attend as a memorial plague was unveiled! A number who were involved those 20 years ago and who were also injured were never informed about it taking place.

Would it have anything to do with the fact that among those taking part in this 'memorial service' was Rev David Armstrong?

David Armstrong, who spoke and led in prayer, is well known as the Presbyterian minister whose pursuit of ecumenism in Limavady in the mid-1980s caused him to leave the town. The Free Presbyterian Church were among those who protested against his ecumenical actions back then.

He was present and took part in this memorial service as he now resides in the town and was deputising for the Mayor's chaplain. 

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 5

The substance of five sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 

An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site. 

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - The Christian is to be separate in their Affections

Part 3 - The Christian is to be separate in their Appearance

Part 4 - The Christian is to be separate in their Associations

Part 5

The Christian is to be separate in their Associations cont'd

There is one further important area of life where this principle of separation is to be seen.

The Christian is to practice separation in the area of Ecclesiastical Separation. The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster is a separatist denomination. By saying that we mean that we will have no fellowship with other denominations that are either liberal or modernistic or both in their theology or denominations that are involved in the ecumenical movement.

The word 'Free' in the title of our denomination was selected by our founding fathers all those years ago to reflect this very point. Separated unto the Gospel, the little booklet published and distributed by our North American churches, [available online here] has the following to say about this point: 

The Free in our name refers to our total dissociation from the major Presbyterian denominations of the world, which have largely repudiated the historical Christian faith. We have no affiliation with the World Council of Churches or any of its international, national, or local organizations. Thus Free speaks of our liberty to stand without compromise for Christ in a day of apostasy.

Many evangelicals have stayed in apostate churches. Others have separated but have not made any strong protest against the betrayal of the gospel by apostates and by the compromise of those evangelicals who have put denominational loyalty before obedience to the biblical command to separate. We view our freedom as liberty to stand resolutely for Christ, to defend the gospel, to oppose apostasy and compromise, and to urge God’s people to cease all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. For us freedom is freedom to be holy, observing both personal and ecclesiastical separation unto the Lord.

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 4

The substance of five sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 

An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site. 

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - The Christian is to be separate in their Affections

Part 3 - The Christian is to be separate in their Appearance

Part 4

The Christian is to be separate in their Associations 

In Numbers 6:6,7 All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head, the Nazarite was never to come into contact with the dead as part of his Nazarite vow. This requirement will illustrate the wider principle of separation as applied to our associations.

John the Baptist is the Nazarite in the Scriptures who emphasises this particular aspect. Among a number of things peculiar to John the Baptist was those whom he refused to associate himself with. He distanced himself from the dead religion of the Scribes and Pharisees, calling them a generation of vipers. He was the voice of one on his own crying in the wilderness, Matthew 3:3.

He had more effect upon the people of the day than all the Scribes and Pharisees. Separation is not a lessening of influence but rather a strengthening of it. It gives the witness a divine power which is absolutely necessary to accomplish anything for God.

What is in view in obeying this principle is not isolation from a world of perishing sinners. We are in the world but not of the world. This is the opposite of what Rome practices with her monasteries and nunneries where people attempt to shut themselves away from the world around them and only succeed in troubling themselves with even greater temptation. Martin Luther said that he broke the seventh commandment more often in the monastery than he did outside it!

It is not isolation from the world with need but separation from defiling associations is what the Lord would have us to practice. This principle brings us to consider the unequal yoke, 2 Corinthains 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… Believers are not to yoke themselves together with unbelievers under any circumstances. To do so will give delight to the devil, dishonour the Lord and dampen our zeal and devotion to Christ. We ignore this precept at our peril.

This applies to a number of areas in our lives:

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 3

The substance of five sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 

An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site.

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - The Christian is to be separate in their Affections

Part 3

The Christian is to be separate in their Appearance

In Numbers 6:5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow, the Nazarite was never to shave their head along as they had taken this Nazarite vow. This requirement will illustrate the wider principle of separation as applied to our appearance.

The Christian's appearance must not be that which is associated with a sinful or a worldly style of living. In the Scriptures we read of styles of dress and appearance that are particularly associated with different things:
[1] There is a style of dress and appearance that is associated with sorrow and mourning. We read of people wearing sackcloth and ashes.
[2] There is the dress of the widow. Tamar put her widow’s garments off from her, Genesis 38:14.
[3] There is the dress of the harlot, Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
[4] You have the appearance of Jezebel where she painted her face or her eyes as the margin says, 2 Kings 9:30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

The Scriptures that we are to flee all appearance of evil. This will apply to the manner of our appearance. 1 Peter 3:3,4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. That which is to interest the Christian more is not the vanity of the outward appearance but godliness in the heart. It is not outward paint and powder, it is inward grace and holiness.

The desire of a Christian should never be to draw attention to themselves by what they wear or how little they wear. Rather it should always be to have people pointed towards Christ, who they see in us.

We live in a day when this is the spirit of the age. It is a case of people dressing to draw attention to themselves, with short hemlines and low necklines. This is not how a Christian is to live. Neither are we to draw attention to themselves for being dowdy, or frumpy.

Rather we are to adorn the gospel by our appearance and show to the world that we have put on Christ. The Christian by their life is to draw attention to the spiritual and not the physical. This is what is of primary important to a born again believer.

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 2

The substance of a number of sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 

An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site.

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2

The Christian is to be separate in their Affections 

In Numbers 6:3,4: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk; the Nazarite was commanded not to partake of wine or strong drink. This requirement placed upon the Nazarite will illustrate and emphasise the wider principle of separation being applied to all our affections.

Sanctification/separation is applicable to our spiritual affections. Because we are fallen, sinful, creatures, we have fallen, sinful, lusts and desires. These are the inclinations of a depraved heart. The root of sin is still present in us. The child of God must seek to crush and crucify those sinful lusts and affections as described in 1 John 2:16; Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. We are to think and act differently to when we were unconverted, Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. The true child of God is to be different and will be.

The Christian is to set their affections upon those things which are heavenly, Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God; and that which is upright and holy, Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The following and satisfying of carnal, fleshly affections and appetites have no place in the life of a true believer and will hinder our service to God. It will dampen our ardour for Christ. If worldly, sinful things predominate in our lives we will be nothing and do nothing for God.

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 1

The substance of a number of sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 

An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site.

Holiness of life is another name for sanctification. Sanctification is the work of God's Holy Spirit within a genuine believer whereby they are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness, Shorter Catechism No. 35.

This Biblical distinctive deals with old fashioned holiness of life which has always been the feature of orthodox Christianity. We believe not in entire sanctification but progressive sanctification.

Sanctification always accompanies justification. This is the purpose of redemption, Ephesians 5:26: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. This is the work of the Spirit, 1 Peter 1:2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

We can go as far as to say that if sanctification is not taking place in a person's life there is no evidence for claiming salvation. Whom Christ saves, the Spirit sanctifies!

This inward work of sanctification leads to outward separation from the world. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:15,16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

New Testament teaching on Separation from Apostasy

In the New Testament the term ‘apostasy’ comes from a word which means ‘a falling away’. It is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. The same word is also used by the Jews when mistakenly accusing Paul of forsaking the teaching of Moses in Acts 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

‘Apostasy’ is the term used to describe a revolt against and a departure from the truth of God. The use of the word in Acts 21:21 shows that it properly describes a forsaking of the great truths of the written Word. The written Word of God and nothing else constitutes the faith once delivered to the saints. We are warned in Scripture that there will come a falling away from the truth of God as the return of Jesus Christ approaches. The love of many shall wax cold!

The question to be addressed is: what is to be the Christian’s attitude to this falling away? We have the answer in the written Word of God.

1. We are to mark out those who depart from the faith. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. The Christian is to measure up all that they hear taught against the infallible standard of the Bible.

2. We are to reprove them. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. The child of God is not to remain silent and complicit with error, they are to speak out against the error, reproving those who teach it.

3. We are to reject them. Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject. If there is no turning from error after repeated counsel then we must reject those who teach the error.

4. We are to have no fellowship with them. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? We cannot remain in fellowship with any who teach error.

5. We are to separate from them. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. Not being able to fellowship with them we must part company from them and join a Church that does hold to the faith once delivered to the saints.

Update - The Bible also teaches Secondary Separation, that is, it requires the Bible believer to separate from other believers who are walking disorderly: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.…And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother, 2 Thess 3:6,14,15.