Christian Cooperation and Separation - John R Rice

Christian Cooperation and Separation
That means I can fellowship with some who fellowship with
some they ought not fellowship with.
Would you fellowship with a preacher who is in the
Southern Baptist Convention? Suppose he supports the
Convention program. (Because of long experience with my
Southern Baptist people and because I was trained in
Southern Baptist schools, pastored Southern Baptist churches,
I use them as an example.) Could you fellowship with such a
man in a revival campaign, if he is for Christ and the Bible, if
he is right on the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection, blood
atonement? Is he standing up for the Bible? Yes. I am sorry he
supports some things he ought not support. Perhaps he does
not know as much about it as he should. If he makes no
divisive issue over that cooperation, I would say go along with
him. Let him come in the revival and help.
Again you ask, “Dr. Rice, could you fellowship with a man
who stays in, we will say, the Southern Baptist Convention?”
Again I mention that group since I am familiar with the work
of my Southern Baptist Convention friends.
Now no man should ever stay anywhere when he has to go
against convictions to stay in. No man should stay in anywhere
when he has to compromise what he thinks is right.
But if a man can preach the whole truth, can support only
what he ought to support, can oppose anything he ought to
oppose and maintain his place as a God-called preacher,
subject to Christ, if he can keep the church as it ought to be—
an independent church according to Christ and the Bible, and
standing true—yes. If he has fellowship in the Convention and
if he supports only those things he feels certain will please
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