They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would not doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2:19)
The words of John are blunt. There were certain ones who had once participated in the fellowship of the saints who had left the church. The apostle’s explanation was that “they were not of us.” He does not mean that they were not physically and personally associated with the brethren, but rather that they were of a different mind set, of different convictions. This had become “manifest” (evident) in their actions as “they went out.” There had been a time when they appeared they were “of us,” but their apostasy had demonstrated otherwise.
Comparable observations can be made in regard to modern departures. The Holy Spirit warned that “some shall depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1). Some leave the church to pursue a worldly lifestyle. Some leave seeking acceptance by the world. Some leave to affiliate with denominations. Some abandon faith altogether. Some leave because they want a broader, more liberal and more compromising fellowship. And some leave because they have drawn their circle of approval so small that they have no room for most of the brotherhood.
We will borrow John’s language to name some reasons why some “went out from us.”
They went out from us because they had doubts about the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the Holy Bible. This means that the Scriptures cannot be trusted 100%. Such is the thinking in worldly theological circles and some who have their degrees from denominational schools show that they have swallowed this kind of infidelity. One who does not have full confidence in the reliability of God’s Word will never be comfortable where there is sound Bible preaching.
They went out from us because they were not of us with respect for the pattern authority of Scripture. We believe the New Testament provides a pattern for our faith and practice and that it is by compliance with the pattern that the church of Christ is identified. Those who pride themselves in their rejection of “pattern authority” logically must embrace an unscriptural paradigm. The only alternative, according to 2 John 9, is either to abide in the doctrine of Christ or to leave the Lord by leaving the doctrine.
They went out from us because they were not with us as regards the hermeneutic of command, example, and necessary inference. This has sometimes been incompletely described “as the ONLY way the Bible teaches.” Obviously there is much more in the Bible (history, facts, poetry, etc.) The point about command, example, and necessary inference is that this is the only basis by which to establish religious authority. The place of commandments is obvious (Matt. 28:19ff). The examples in view are those which are demonstrations of how commands are to be obeyed (1 Cor. 11:2; Phil. 3:17). Necessary inferences are conclusions so logically necessary as that two plus two equals four. Those who leave the church over contempt for this hermeneutic have nothing to offer in its place.
They went out from us because they found the simplicity of New Testament worship to be dull and meaningless. Religious entertainment has a greater appeal. After all, how can bread and grape juice compare to dramatic performances? And how can singing scriptural hymns compare to “Christian rock”? Such measure church by how it makes them feel, not by what is authorized in God’s Word. We make no defense for worship assemblies that are half-hearted. “In spirit” is as essential as “in truth” (John 4:24). But those who go out from us in order to have a more satisfying church experience either never knew or have forgotten that worship is to praise God, not to satisfy fleshly emotions.
They went out from us because they resented preaching that upholds truth and exposes error. With some audiences there is no longer room for sermons showing biblical proof for our distinctive positions regarding worship, the oneness of the church, scriptural baptism, the sinfulness of divorce, etc. It’s the same story as described by Isaiah, people who do not want to hear “the law of the Lord” are demanding “smooth” preaching that pleases the multitudes (Is. 8:19ff).
They went out from us because of an inordinate emphasis on grace and faith to the exclusion of obedience. We know and preach that salvation is by grace, unearned and never merited, and that God’s offer of pardon must be accepted by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). However, any preaching of grace and faith which minimizes or excludes the necessity of obedience is unacceptable (Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:22).
They went out from us trusting an inflated view of grace. Our only hope is in the grace of God and his grace is sufficient to cover all our sins. It is an invention of men, however, to assume that there is (as some have called it) “an umbrella of grace” that makes the rejection of God’s instructions acceptable. Yet it is more comfortable for some to ignore the demands of truth and to justify continuance of sin and error by saying “grace will take care of it.” Some who have gone out from us realize they have affiliated with unscriptural organizations, which teach unscriptural doctrines, and which worship unscripturally, but feel satisfied because they think grace will make it right.
They were not with us with regard to the restrictions implied by the silence of the Scriptures. We have long endured the mockery of those who ridicule our convictions regarding instrumental music in worship. Our position has been explicit – such is not the music for worship authorized in the New Testament – and this position has never been refuted. In many places there has not been sufficient teaching on the principles involved, but whatever the fault, some are going “out from us” because they don’t realize that what is NOT authorized is NOT authorized!
They were not with us in recognizing the principle of GENERIC and SPECIFIC authority. Some biblical instructions are generic, leaving the specifics of how to follow the instructions to our judgment as to what is expedient. For example, the instructions for our meeting together on the Lord’s Day are generic as regards to time of day and the place. Any practice which fits within the framework of that generic command is acceptable. But there are also commands that are specific, which can only be obeyed in the specific way authorized. The elements for the Lord’s Supper are specified and to omit these elements, or to substitute other elements, or to add to these elements is in violation of specific authority. Liberalism tries to make the specific generic, to allow more than is authorized. Radicals try to make the generics specific, binding what God has not bound (Matt. 18:18).
They went out from us because they lacked love and loyalty for the church, which is the body of Christ. It is easy enough to point out the failures in the human side of the church. But such does not justify contempt for the church. Some of the meanest, most unfair, and false things that are said against Christ’s church are said by those who were once among us. We suspect that this is their psychological compensation for their own sense of guilt that they have deserted the cause they once loved and served.
It is not a new thing that some are deserting the church. John saw it happening and placed the blame on the ones who were leaving, not on the faithful. Paul was saddened by the defection of Demas, but he knew the fault was in Demas (2 Tim. 4:10). When someone leaves the church it is in order for us to examine how we might have better helped and encouraged them. We realize our human side of the church has many shortcomings and we want to do our best in helping all who are weak and struggling. But the faithful must also realize that some are going to depart because “they were not of us.”
Carolina Messenger 