Biblical Separation Defended - Far Eastern Bible College

Another point which needs to be noted is concerning Dr. Ferm’sassertion that,Scriptural separation is positive and not negative. It isseparation to something rather than separation from something. 3Fundamentalists have no objection to these words, for the separatistposition does not advocate mere separation from unbelievers followedby seclusion and retirement from the work of the Lord. However, Dr.Ferm’s proper enunciation of the need for separatists to conductevangelism and the other phases of the Lord’s labor in addition to theircontending for the faith, the truth of which the Separatists alsoacknowledge, in no way defends cooperative evangelism’s posture ofnot only not contending for the faith, but also of aiding the modernistenemies of the Gospel. This is true in light of the ancient maxim that,“Obedience in one particular cannot atone for transgression in another.” 4One final point needs to be mentioned. Despite the quotation of D.L. Moody which stated that the Lord’s “method of dealing with errorwas largely to ignore it,” 5 Moody himself in his sermons, although headvanced the cooperative spirit, made constant references against deists,skeptics, infidels, false teachers, and false doctrines. 6 When askedregarding inclusive evangelism, “Is it right for any man or woman whohas not been converted to have anything to do in an evangelicalchurch?” he said, “I never set an unconverted man or woman to work,but Christian men need to be warmed up and then set to work to convertthose who are not Christian.” 7 ConclusionsIt has been noted, contrary to the assertion made in the propositionat hand, that it cannot be sustained that the Lord’s method of dealingwith error was largely to ignore it. In fact it has been seen that althoughthe Lord gently corrected the errors of His own flock, in the case of theenemies of God and His truth on numerous occasions He publiclyexposed, warned against, and sternly rebuked the false teachers of Israelwith righteous indignation. Thus the proposition which advocates thatChristians and evangelists by following Christ’s example ought toignore the pernicious error of modernism, not warn against it, and not83