God Believes in "Second Degree" Separation

Countless times over the years I have heard “second degree” separation mocked as unscriptural and extremist. For example, to separate from Billy Graham because he associated with modernists and Roman Catholics or to separate from Jerry Falwell or Ed Stetzer or whoever for similar associations is labeled “second degree separation.” As long as a man holds sound doctrine himself, we are not supposed to reprove him on the basis of his associations, but this is not what we see in Scripture. A prophet of God was sent to reprove king Jehoshaphat solely on the basis of his wrong associations. Jehoshaphat followed the true and living God and even had enough zeal for the truth to destroy idols, but because he joined hands with an enemy of the truth, Ahab, he was reproved sharply and judged. “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:2-3). If Jehu the son of Hanani were to exercise his ministry of godly reproof today, he would be labeled an extremist, a trouble maker, perhaps even a “fruitless blogger.” He would be told to “take off the gloves and pick up a towel,” as I was told by Warren Wiersbe in the 1980s. The “Jehoshaphat camp” would say, “Doesn’t Jehu know that Jehoshaphat is a good man who loves the Lord and does many wonderful works? Who does he think he is? And how many souls has this Jehu led to Christ? He’s probably jealous of the king’s good ministry.” And if Jehoshaphat were a big-name Independent Baptist leader, he would just ignore “the criticism,” stay above the fray, treat it like bubble gum, perhaps pray for Jehu to get rid of the “critical eye.”

(Friday Church News Notes, September 20, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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