Theology of Separation

By jwolf6589 Mon, 10/24/2011 - 8:15pm
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jwolf6589
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I am reading a book called Set Apart by Kent Hughes. Its a conservative evangelical look at separation from the world. However it only covers one of the separation topics. I also have a small book called The Dividing Line which is a Fundamentalist look at the doctrine of Separation. However I may want something with more meat to it. I attend a Fundamentalist/separatist Baptist church and am such.

Has anyone read these books and if so what do you think?

[URL="http://www.amazon.com/Be-Ye-Holy-Fred-Moritz/dp/0890847371/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319504484&sr=8-1"]Be Ye Holy: The Call to Christian Separation[/URL]

[URL="http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-separation-struggle-pure-church/dp/0872270696/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319504922&sr=1-1"]Biblical Separation[/URL]

Sadly many evangelical and Charismatic dismiss the doctrine of separation as "legalistic" yet do not want to hear the arguments for separation. This to me is the height of arrogance.

John

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Tue, 10/25/2011 - 8:53am
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Jay
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Both books

Both books are good works and well worth the read.

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Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
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Tue, 10/25/2011 - 12:05pm
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JD Miller
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Kent Hughes

I am reading Set Apart as well. In fact, the pastors in our fellowship are going through it together as a discussion topic. I am only part way through, but so far I think he is making some really good observations. The main criticism that I have is that in the beginning chapter as he uses Lot as an example of one who compromises with the world (which I believe he did), he adds to the scripture in his conclusions about the what and why of Lot's life. It really preaches good, but we need to make sure we expound what the scripture says, not what we think may have been going on as if it was actually recorded. If he had said that he thought these things might have been going on and if they were going on they were wrong, I wouldn't have had a problem. We must be careful not to misrepresent the scriptural narrative. At the same time I am not willing to negate the whole book because of this far too common error among preachers.

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Wed, 10/26/2011 - 8:30pm
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Jay C. wrote: Both books are
Jay C. wrote:

Both books are good works and well worth the read.

How are they different from "The Diving Line"?

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Wed, 10/26/2011 - 8:32pm
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jwolf6589
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JD Miller wrote: I am reading
JD Miller wrote:

I am reading Set Apart as well. In fact, the pastors in our fellowship are going through it together as a discussion topic. I am only part way through, but so far I think he is making some really good observations. The main criticism that I have is that in the beginning chapter as he uses Lot as an example of one who compromises with the world (which I believe he did), he adds to the scripture in his conclusions about the what and why of Lot's life. It really preaches good, but we need to make sure we expound what the scripture says, not what we think may have been going on as if it was actually recorded. If he had said that he thought these things might have been going on and if they were going on they were wrong, I wouldn't have had a problem. We must be careful not to misrepresent the scriptural narrative. At the same time I am not willing to negate the whole book because of this far too common error among preachers.

I am on page 44 and am reading it along with 3 other books on other topics. What are you thinking so far (besides Lot)?

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Sat, 10/29/2011 - 6:40pm
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JD Miller
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Godly pleasures in godliness

John, if you are on pg 44, you are reading his chapter on Hedonism. I thought this was an excellent chapter. He points out the good things that God has created and how we are to enjoy them. Obviously we are not to put them ahead of God, but he also cautions that we should not make them such a focus that we neglect other things.
It has been a while since I read that chapter, but it has a lot of positive highlighting in it. Please do not take my criticism on his Lot isegesis as a condemnation of the rest of the book. I am not finished with it yet either though. We are just reading a few chapters each month so we can discuss them later.

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Sat, 10/29/2011 - 7:57pm
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Jay
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Different purposes
jwolf6589 wrote:
Jay C. wrote:

Both books are good works and well worth the read.

How are they different from "The Dividing Line"?

It's been a while since I read "Dividing Line", but I generally think that it's better to get a multiplicity of perspectives on a specific topic than just reading one book and using that. I'd like to read "Set Apart" but haven't been able to finagle or find a copy. There's a little section in Mahaffey's book "Worldliness" that might be helpful as well for a non-BJU perspective on separation.

As to your question, I find that "Be Ye Holy", "Dividing Line" are more concerned with personal and ecclesiastical separation. "Biblical Separation" and "Tragedy of Compromise" are more about the history of separatist theory and belief in the worldwide church.

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Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
-Eph. 4:29-32, ESV

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Sat, 10/29/2011 - 8:54pm
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JD Miller wrote: John, if you
JD Miller wrote:

John, if you are on pg 44, you are reading his chapter on Hedonism. I thought this was an excellent chapter. He points out the good things that God has created and how we are to enjoy them. Obviously we are not to put them ahead of God, but he also cautions that we should not make them such a focus that we neglect other things.
It has been a while since I read that chapter, but it has a lot of positive highlighting in it. Please do not take my criticism on his Lot isegesis as a condemnation of the rest of the book. I am not finished with it yet either though. We are just reading a few chapters each month so we can discuss them later.

Oh yeah I remember what he spoke about on pleasure. In a sense what he has written about is very similar to what David Jeremiah said in his latest book that I am reading. One sentence Hughes made in that chapter stuck out to me, and that was when he mentioned "food" as being a pleasure. Many, many, many, many christians these days struggle in this area, and very few give a rat about it, or can see the error of their ways.

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