We can look at Novatian and those New Testament churches who stood with him and say, "See, New Testament Baptist churches aren't Protestants; New Testament Baptist churches were protested against from that time to this." We would be correct in that conclusion. But, if that is all that we learn from this situation, we have failed to learn from history and are likely to repeat the same errors that were made back then by those whom Novatian opposed.
Novatian teaches us the importance of separation. When we fail to separate from sin and error, things may move along much as before, but there will come a time when we recognize that we aren't where we used to be or what we used to be. There are two types of separation that Novatian's life and stand manifest. First, Novatian opposed those "Christians" who were faithful to God when it was easy but returned to paganism when things got hard. He believed that Christ's followers would follow Christ and avoid pagan practices in their everyday living as the Bible teaches. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)." Jesus never promised that living for Him would be easy. He said that His disciples would deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Novatian was standing for personal separation from the world, even in the face of adversity. Second, Novatian opposed those churches that coddled these unfaithful "disciples." He preached that these churches were denying the faith and were no longer Scriptural, New Testament churches. As a result, he, and those churches that remained faithful to the Word of God, rejected the baptism of these corrupt churches as invalid. Novatian was standing for ecclesiastical separation from unethical and unbiblical churches, even in the face of ridicule. Today churches are making decisions regarding these same two principles of separation. Will they preach separation from the growing pagan influences of our world? Will they preach separation from the growing number of churches that infuse error into their doctrine and practice for the sake of numbers and popularity? We could learn a lot from Novatian! I pray that men of God will stand as Novatian did: identifying error and calling for separation unto holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16)!
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About Jerry JacksonJerry has been writing for many years now. He has written tracts for several churches, as well as his ministries in Papua New Guinea and in Canada. He has had the opportunity to have many of his articles published in several Independent Baptist periodicals over the years. His main goals are to teach truth and lift up the Saviour. Archives
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