The correct attitude in separation: humiliation.

Having assumed this position of separation in the house of God, we must guard ourselves at all times against the pride that can arise in our heart. We must be careful not to be led to consider ourselves better or more faithful than those from whom we separate. The Lord will not approve an attitude of the kind "I am holier than thou" (Isa. 65:5) . The correct attitude is one of humiliation. J. N. Darby said that "if anyone speaks of separation from evil without being humbled, it is well to be careful, because such a position is nothing other than the same one that in every age gave rise to sects". The spirit fitting for someone who purifies himself from the confusion in the house of God is that of self-judgment, not self-righteousness. Separation in the house of God is painful, for it implies separating from many true believers who are not conscious of their associations with corruption. Something like this should break our heart, for we love all our brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, obedience to the Word of God must have priority over all our personal preferences. In fact, obedience in this respect is a proof of our love for our brothers and sisters. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments" (1 John 5:2). Those gathered to the name of the Lord assume this position of separation in Christendom because it is in conformity with the Word of God.

Many think that the solution is to remain in the confusion and try to fix the errors of Christendom, but this is clearly at odds with the Word of God. When the "tares" were sown among the "wheat", the father of the family told his servants not to try to fix the problem, but to let "both grow together until the harvest" -- which is "the end of the world" or "the consummation of the age" -- and then the Lord Himself would take care of it (Matt. 13:24-30). Fortunately the Lord did not leave such a "burden" of responsibility upon His people (Rev. 2:24-25). The solution is to keep ourselves apart from the confusion and the error, separating ourselves from them. Second Timothy 2:22 indicates that God will give us some with whom we may walk in this path of separation. This is what those gathered to the name of the Lord are doing when they meet for worship and ministry in separation.

We know a dear sister in the Lord whose denomination is going through an upheaval. The minister there denies the inspiration of the Scriptures, the virgin birth of Christ and His resurrection. He also teaches that there are many ways to be saved and accepts the marriage of homosexuals in the church, besides having abandoned his own wife. We showed this sister that the Word of God teaches that she should separate from that denomination, but she thinks it would be wrong to separate because she has attended that church all her life. However, the longer she stays there, the more frustrated and ashamed she will feel. If she did what the Word indicates, perhaps others might have the same exercise of separating themselves, but the fact that she remains in fellowship there nullifies any power she would like to have in her individual testimony. Her intention may be good, but it is not God's way for the believer who desires to be faithful.

IN SUMMARY: The saints gathered to the name of the Lord occupy a position of separation from religious confusion and error in Christendom because the Word of God (the second epistles) admonishes us to do so. This is the only biblical position to be taken when the ruin of the Christian testimony is irremediable.