The doctrine of separation, also known as the doctrine of non-fellowship, is a belief among some

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

religious groups that the members of a church should be separate from "the world" and not have association with those who are "of the world". There are many scriptures in both the

Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...

and

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

of the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts o ...

that provide the basis for this doctrine. For example: * Amos 3:3 – "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" * Ephesians 5:11 – "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…" * II Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers..." * John 17:13–16 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." Different groups vary widely in what to them constitutes separation. Additionally, there is a distinction between first and second degree separation. For example, many Christians want to live in a way that is distinct from the typical lifestyle of the world (first degree). This was supported by Dennis Costella when he said "We are in the world, but we are not to be a part of it." Exclusive Brethren are an Evangelical Protestant Christian who hold strongly to a doctrine of separation which means that they isolate themselves from those not of their community. A similar but less extreme form is the position held by Independent Fundamental Baptists and Bible Baptist churches. Others would claim that not only should one separate from the world, but also from those Christians who would not separate themselves from the world (second degree). Believers in second degree separation believe that Christians who are tied up with "the world" are themselves guilty of apostasy for their failure to adequately separate. Practices and areas that should be separated under the more strict interpretations of the doctrine of separation include: *Mental Life: Thoughts, reading, attitudes *Physical Life: Dress, physical contact, entertainment, speech *Social Life: Friendships, courtship, career *Spiritual Life: Personal devotional life, fellowship with other Christians, the Church The doctrine of separation often leads to ecclesiastical separatism, in which Christians leave Christian denominations that they believe are apostate (Rev. 18:4).

References

{{reflist Christian ethics Separatism Christian fundamentalism

See also

References