Pensees: Separating is Obvious

Separating is Obvious

I sat at the table with the dean of a well-known Christian college in Presbyterian circles. The conversation was Federal Vision, the CREC, and some high-profile figures who have moved back toward Romish views of justification. This is when I asked the tough question.

“I come from a heritage of separatism. While, it is granted that separatism has been abused, I simply cannot understand why Ligon Duncan and R.C. Sproul can speak at said venues with said individuals when both present the Doctrine of Justification as if it is something they would be willing to go to the stake for. To me, as a separatist, that they should share the stage with such a well-known cooperative of such a significantly compromised organization is baffling. I ask in all sincerity because I respect these men: How do they justify this?”

Long pause. Audible sigh. Straight, honest look directly in the eyes.

“I don’t know.”

Then he explained to me that it was so obvious that he personally would refuse to be on the same platform as the individual (unnamed in this article) in question.

Separation and/or public denunciation is, I think, the obligation of any believer when the truths in question cut to the very heart of the pure Gospel of God. For too many Reformed brethren, the Council of Trent seems to explain their view of justification better than the classical Reformed view. This is sad because the Council of Trent was the Roman Catholic response to Luther. Sadly, many popular Reformed leaders are sending unclear signals about how important the doctrine of justification is because they will not be loud and clear (and public) about distancing themselves from this heresy.

And, yes, it is heresy. Justification is heart and center of the Christian faith.

I wish that today’s champions for justification would actually be willing to die for it. Instead of saying, “I would die for this,” why don’t they actually die to the friendship or the particular platform? I would love to see the writers of books become martyrs. Otherwise, it appears to be nothing more than an intercollegiate debate.

Sometimes the obvious becomes lucidly clear even for the confused evangelical today as this quote so aptly illustrates. In fact, says the Canon of a conservative branch of the Anglican church on the corrupt Episcopalian church (USA), when you exit, run!

“I think they need to run, not walk, to the exit and find an orthodox Episcopal church,” suggests Anderson. [from this article on new head of ECUSA’s denomination.]

It’s obvious. I just think it should be obvious a whole lot sooner.