To Separate or Not to Separate
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Leadership on Jan 24th, 2012 | 11 commentsDr. Chappell is pretty friendly and likeable for a strict fundamentalist. One of the friendliest I’ve seen. I think he’d be a great guy to sit down and have lunch with. (And he’d actually have lunch with me, even though I’m not a Baptist).
Here are some things that help determine, in his mind, who we can link to/support in the Christian community:
1. Fundamentals of the Faith
2. Cessationaists
3. Alcohol
4. Bible Version
5. Music Choice and Conforming to the World
6. Identity as a Baptist
I do appreciate that he is friendly and not condescending to those who do not agree.
And, unlike many ‘independent baptists’, he does not discount the ‘christianity’ or ‘savedness’ of those outside of items 2 -6. But he’s pretty firm that he won’t feel comfortable recommending or ‘sharing a platform’ with anyone who doesn’t keep his view of items 2 -6.
I understand the logic. It’s what I grew up with. But I think it’s flawed for one simple reason. I think Dr. Chappell has made items 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to be equal with #1.
I do not.
I don’t believe that a drum or a verse from The Message is something that should be a ‘test of fellowship’.
Nor do I believe that being Baptist should be a pre-requisite. Man, that constriction alone takes out ALMOST everyone in the New Testament.
So… all that said… we all have lines.
Where’s yours?
Who will you NOT fellowship or break bread with? And why?
11 Responses to “ “To Separate or Not to Separate”
Leave a Reply
I understand the logic because I grew up in an Independent Baptist Church, however I disagree with the logic.
As to your question, I will fellowship or break bread with anyone. How else can we reach anyone for Christ? A few years ago, I regularly ate lunch with a group that included a Lutheran, Catholic, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal (COG Cleveland), Non-Denomonational and a non-believer. We had great discussions and some heated debates, but at the end of the day we were all friends who agreed to disagree on certain things. Our goal was not to convince the others or change their minds but to better understand what each one believed and why. This lead to a better understanding of how each of us viewed things such as Baptism, Communion, alcohol consumption, tradition and legalism.
I believe each of us became stronger in our faith as a result of the interaction and now several years later, each one still attends the same church they attended at that time and the non-believer still does not attend. We are all still friends and I could call any one of them in the middle of the night and know that I could count on them.
I believe Jesus was a friend of sinners and if we are to be like Him, we must befriend them as well. This also means befriending other “believers” we may disagree with.
I am familiar with Dr. Paul Chappell and the ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church in California. I have had some association and fellowship with Independent Baptists. I am a missionary Baptist (BMA of America). I know they are strong in evangelism and doctrine and win many people to Christ. And, of course, they are KJV only across the board. I fellowship with pastors who are not Baptist and have good friends from other denominations. I think we would all agree on the keeping the fundamentals of the faith. It is only natural that Dr. Chappell would be loyal to the Baptist faith. That’s where he serves. I appreciate his nice, friendly spirit and I think he and I would enjoy sitting down for lunch and discussing the blessings of God.
The statement “And, of course, they are KJV only across the board.” is not correct. There are many independent baptist, including myself, who are not KJV Only. While I may have great respect for the accuracy of the KJV I do not believe it is the only translation that is God’s Word.
I notice on his blog that Chappell recommends a book by Charles Spurgeon. I wonder if he’s aware of Spurgeon’s position on alcohol and tobacco and his practice of using non-KJV versions and even pointing out translation errors in the KJV.
Do you people ever read your Bibles?? Jesus would “break bread” with anyone. If you are not willing to also break bread with anyone then you are not a Christian but merely an emotionally disturbed nut who is claiming to be a Christian. Come on, guys! If you are not going to follow Jesus’ example then stop telling everyone that you are a Christian because you are not.
That was the nicest anyone ever told me I cannot play with them.
Very polite way of telling me that if I don’t totally agree with him on all these points I’m totally messed up… At least it was polite…
Just impressed to watch this excellent video clip so far. I like this wonderful video clip so far. Hope you always as like it. Thanks! mendocino hotels
Ken, sorry I made a broad generalization about Independent Baptists using KJV only. I was raised very conservative Missionary Baptists, but preached out of the NIV for 20 years before going back to the NKJV, EVS, and CEV. The bottom line for me is communicating the truth in a way my congregation can understand it. Obviously that is your passion, too. I would enjoy getting to know you and breaking bread together!
“We will do anything short of sin to introduce people to God”
As it has been stated, Jesus would spend time with anyone. To be separate is to have a transformed mind that is not of this world. The Word also says to not be unequally yoked which I believes means not to have excessive ties with people of the world. I am pretty selective about my best friends and I was pretty selective about my husband etc, but I will spend time and converse with whoever God leads me to!