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When the “Babylon” of the first century was about to be destroyed, God’s faithful people were strongly warned: “Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4). This warning applies to God’s people in the “Babylons” of every age, whether composed of believers or unbelievers. The many apostate, digressive congregations of our time certainly qualify as modern “Babylons.” Thousands of saints now find themselves in a congregation whose elders and preacher are not at all concerned with abiding in the “old paths” of Truth and righteousness. These saints are justifiably unhappy, knowing things are not right. What are they to do? The answer is clear from Scripture: “Come forth, my people, out of her”
One reason the Heavenly voice warned God’s faithful people to “come forth” was because they must “have no fellowship with her sins.” By staying in a liberal, digressive congregation, one has fellowship with sin, evil, and error. “Fellowship” refers to sharing something in common with others or jointly participating with others in a given thing. God has never been pleased when His children take part in and support that which opposes His Truth.
Notice that the warning specifies that God’s people can “have no fellowship with her sins.” We can have neither “partial,” “some,” or even “a little” fellowship with sin and error; the rule of Scripture is “NO FELLOWSHIP.” Paul echoed the warning: “Be not ye therefore partakers with them; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:7, 11; cf. 2 Cor. 6:14–18). While both of these passages apply primarily to fellowship with unbelievers, the teaching is the same relating to sinful brethren: “If any one cometh unto you and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works” (2 John 10–11).
God knows nothing of Rubel Shelly’s scheme of “Big F” and/or “Little f” “levels of fellowship.” He knows nothing of the Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett heresy alleging that “fellowship” is based on “Gospel,” but not on “doctrine.” Those who remain in churches bent on error should seriously ponder the Scriptural prohibition of any and all fellowship with same. The Lord’s imperative to allies of error is, “Come forth.”
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, May 3, 1990, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
