Secondary separation is the idea that Christians should separate from other Christians who are disobedient to God’s commands. This concept comes primarily from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, where Paul instructs the Thessalonian church to keep away from every brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that they received from Paul.
The key verses are:
“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)
Paul is concerned that idleness and disobedience to apostolic teaching will spread in the church like leaven if left unchecked. Therefore, he instructs the Thessalonians to socially separate from those who are refusing to work and follow the apostles’ instructions. This is not a separation from unbelievers, but a separation from unrepentant and disobedient believers for the sake of discipline and the purity of the church.
The key principles behind secondary separation are:
1) Obedience to God’s commands takes priority over fellowship or unity. If a fellow believer is openly disobeying God, their fellowship should be withdrawn so that they will be ashamed and hopefully repent.
2) Disobedience spreads if tolerated. Just as a little leaven leavens the whole lump, tolerating disobedience can infect the whole church body. Separating from the disobedient believer quarantines the problem.
3) The purpose is always restoration. The disobedient brother is still a brother, and the goal of separation is repentance and restoration to fellowship, not permanent shunning.
4) Purity in the church requires discipline. A healthy church must be intolerant of open sin and disobedience in its members. Separating from the unrepentant helps maintain the church’s purity.
5) Unity is based on truth. True fellowship and unity can only happen around God’s truth. Obeying God’s commands takes priority over artificial unity.
Throughout church history there has been debate over how broadly to apply secondary separation. Some key questions include:
– What kinds of doctrinal differences warrant separation? Only denials of core doctrines like the deity of Christ? Or any deviation from orthodoxy?
– What kinds of disobedience require separation? Only overt sin like sexual immorality? Or should Christians also separate over issues like alcohol, entertainment, etc?
– How strict should separation be? Total social shunning until repentance? Or simply not participating in the disobedient activities while still having limited fellowship?
– Does separation apply to true believers only, or unbelievers also?
Positions range from only separating from heretics who deny essential doctrines, all the way to strict separatists who refuse any fellowship with those who disagree on even minor issues like Bible translations, music styles, fashion, etc.
Most evangelicals have tended to limit separation to clear, unrepentant sin and denial of core doctrines that undermine biblical salvation, stopping short of legalistic standards that go beyond Scripture. But there is no consensus on exactly where to draw the lines.
Some key considerations from Scripture when deciding whether to practice secondary separation include:
– Is this truly an issue of obedience to God’s clear commands, or just a matter of personal preference or conscience? The focus should be on matters of biblical obedience. (Romans 14:1-12)
– Has there been adequate patient teaching and rebuke? Has the erring brother rejected repeated correction and remained unrepentant? (Titus 3:10, 2 Timothy 4:2)
– Is my response aiming to restore them gently, or punish and personally judge them? What approach is most Christ-like? (Galatians 6:1-2)
– Will separation achieve the purpose of restoration and repentance, or harden their disobedience? Wisdom is needed to discern what approach will turn them back to God. (Proverbs 27:5-6, Jude 1:22-23)
– Am I faithfully obeying God in my own life? Separation should never be an excuse for personal self-righteousness. (Matthew 7:1-5)
– Is this separation isolating believers unnecessarily over minor issues, or protecting the church from dangerous influences that will harm others’ faith? Consider which danger is greater. (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
– Am I separating out of love for God and others, or personal pride? Check motives of the heart. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Secondary separation can become abusive or legalistic if taken to extremes. But wisely and lovingly practiced in certain circumstances, it serves an important purpose of maintaining purity in Christ’s church. The keys are following clear biblical commands, focusing on restoration, acting in humility and patience, and separating only when necessary to protect the flock from dangerous deception or sin. Handled well, it can serve the godly purposes of holiness, discipline, and unity around God’s truth.
Here are some examples from Scripture of situations where separation would be warranted:
– A church member who claims to be a believer but is living blatantly in sexual immorality and refuses to repent despite repeated confrontation and correction. (1 Corinthians 5:1-11)
– Elders who begin teaching false doctrine that contradicts the gospel and lead others astray. (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 2 Timothy 2:16-19)
– Believers participating in pagan temples and telling others such participation is acceptable for Christians. (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
– Known swindlers, slanderers and deceivers operating under the name of Christ who must be exposed. (2 Timothy 3:1-9, Romans 16:17-18)
– Believers who are busybodies, living in idleness instead of working, and refusing apostolic instruction. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15)
– Self-identified Christians who practice sorcery, witchcraft or other forms of the occult. (Galatians 5:19-21)
And some examples of situations where separation would probably be unwarranted:
– True believers who differ on secondary doctrines like the timing of end times events.
– Christians who exercise their freedom to consume alcohol privately in moderation.
– Variations in worship music style or church architecture between congregations.
– Use of different Bible translations or disagreement over textual criticism.
– Christians with differing views on parenting styles, education choices, holiday celebrations, political candidates, etc.
– Believers who have different standards of entertainment or modesty that are not clear biblical commands.
The overarching principles from Scripture are to separate when necessary for purity and obedience, but avoid going beyond God’s word to create division where Christians have liberty to follow their conscience before the Lord. The goal should always be proper discipline for the purpose of restoration and unity around biblical truth, not personal judgment or schism over disputed matters of conscience.
In summary, secondary separation is the concept of Christians withdrawing fellowship from other believers who are openly disobedient to God’s word, with the aims of discipline, restoration and protecting the church. It is to be applied cautiously and wisely, only after patient rebuke and for issues that undermine biblical truth and practice. Legalistic over-application can harm Christian unity, but judicious biblical separation maintains purity by removing dangerous leaven from Christ’s body. As Paul instructed, obedience to Christ takes priority over artificial unity, but the manner should always be gentle restoration rather than self-righteous condemnation.
