Biblical Separation Defended - Far Eastern Bible College

method taught in the Scriptures. In view of this book’s wide circulationand in view of the current theological climate, which sees neoevangelicalismand separatism each striving to justify their antagonisticpositions on the basis of the Bible, this book needs to be answered.ClarificationsAt no time should this book ever be thought to attack Dr. Ferm’spersonality, integrity, or his desire to serve Jesus Christ; nor should itever be construed to question his motive for thinking as he does. Theonly thing that is here in question is his examination and findingsconcerning the ministry of the Lord. This, however, is no light subject,and if Dr. Ferm is in error concerning cooperative evangelism, thenconsidering that 75,000 copies of his book are in circulation, this is agrievous error despite the fact of Dr. Ferm’s sincerity.As the volume at issue has as its full title the words, CooperativeEvangelism: Is Billy Graham Right or Wrong?, it is clearly a defense ofDr. Graham’s basic evangelistic policy. Therefore, a critique of Dr.Ferm’s words and his policies on evangelism happens in most cases tobe a critique of Dr. Graham’s policies and methods. However, the aim ofthis work is not to examine per se Dr. Graham, and all references to himare to be understood as subservient to the main task at hand. 8It is also plainly to be understood that where Dr. Ferm is criticizedfor his arguments in favor of liberal sponsorship of meetings where aconservative gospel is to be preached, that the writer never intends toimply that no conservatives also participatc in the sponsorship. It is fullyrealized that evangelicals do participate in the sponsorship of themeetings. The question at issue, however, is whether liberals ought to beamong the sponsors at all, and the dominating element at that.It is also to be realized that the writer as well as separatistseverywhere praise the Lord for the many souls that have been saved inthe Graham crusades, despite the fact that the writer sees clearly taughtin the Scriptures the doctrine of Ecclesiastical Separation. The writer,however, laments the fact that so many of today’s evangelicals with alltheir scholarship have not yet learned the simple truth, that God’s workis to be done in God’s way. When God’s work is not done in God’s way,10