Biblical Separation Defended - Far Eastern Bible College

ARGUMENT VIII“The Lord Stressed Fellowship, Not Separation”The Argument Advanced by Dr. FermThe eighth New Evangelical contention is made as follows:Mr. Frank Colquhoun, of the Evangelical Alliance inLondon, after a careful study of separation and fellowship in theNew Testament, has concluded that “the Bible lays moreemphasis upon fellowship than upon mere negative separation.”This being the case, it is safer, as a rule, to seek to cooperateunless cooperation affords no open door. Therefore themissionary or evangelist takes no risk in practicing a cooperativepolicy. 1An Examination of Dr. Ferm’s ConclusionsIn a way very similar to that discussed in Argument Seven, wherepreaching against hypocrisy in general was made the antithesis ofpreaching against doctrinal error when actually both have their properplace, here practicing fellowship and practicing separation have beenmade antithetical actions. On the basis of this choice between the two,Dr. Ferm states that he agrees that fellowship is the practice stressed inthe New Testament, and that therefore this is “safer, as a rule.” Hefurther concludes on the basis of fellowship being stressed more thanseparation, that, “The missionary or evangelist takes no risk inpracticing a cooperative policy.” 2Dr. Ferm’s conclusion here, which is exhibited in his coinage of an“It is safer . . . to seek to cooperate” 3 rule of thumb, displays the factthat the conclusions on the matter of ecclesiastical separation which he72