Christian Cooperation and Separation - John R Rice
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<strong>Christian</strong> <strong>Cooperation</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Separation</strong><br />
A <strong>Christian</strong>? It turns out he was a <strong>Christian</strong>. In the next<br />
book of Corinthians, Paul said, “Now receive him. He is so<br />
penitent, has wept so much. Don’t be overmuch hard.<br />
Receive him. Now he is sorry <strong>and</strong> has cleaned up.”<br />
But do not fellowship with a man who is living in open,<br />
gross sin that brings disgrace on the cause of Christ. I have no<br />
more time to discuss that, but that is one limitation on<br />
fellowship.<br />
Another limitation is Romans 14:1, “Him that is weak in<br />
the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”<br />
Listen! You are not to run with anybody if it means<br />
quarreling <strong>and</strong> strife <strong>and</strong> division <strong>and</strong> hair-pulling <strong>and</strong> hellraising.<br />
You can say, “God bless you. But you go your way <strong>and</strong><br />
I will go mine.” If there is going to be strife, no real unity, no<br />
real heartfelt joy <strong>and</strong> results for God, then we sometimes<br />
cannot cooperate with <strong>Christian</strong>s who make strife over minor<br />
issues. They are weak in the faith, <strong>and</strong> they make an insistent<br />
division over it.<br />
A Great Gulf Makes True <strong>Christian</strong> Fellowship<br />
Impossible With Unconverted People<br />
But we are not to have fellowship with unconverted people.<br />
We may love them, but they are not <strong>Christian</strong>s. We may love<br />
unconverted people, but we are not equal with them. That is so<br />
clearly taught in II Corinthians, chapter 6, <strong>and</strong> verses 14-18:<br />
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for<br />
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?<br />
<strong>and</strong> what communion hath light with darkness? And what<br />
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