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Ephesians 5:11 – Basis For Saying, “No”

We’ve just had to say that concerning an activity planned for the Austin area, with at least some congregations in the area actively participating in the event. The spearheading is from a congregation to our south, and the topic area is indeed worthwhile. But, involved in the activity will be those known to be men of the Crossroads movement, about which so much has been documented as being error. In such cases, when the invitation comes our way, we must give the negative answer.

We wish it was otherwise in the church today. I well recall a time when some teaching, study or meeting activity could be held in an area, and every congregation within 20 or 50 miles would announce it, promote it, and attend it! A wonderful spirit of cooperation, between elders, preachers and congregations existed, and the reason was that what would be taught there, in that event, was the same thing being taught “in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Ephesians 5:11 states this, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” That refusal of fellowship is based on the doctrine of Christ, and the fact that there has been deviation from it. Whether in manner of life, or in doctrine, a transgression of the law of God, with a spurning of efforts to bring one back to the right way, bars fellowship with that one. The warning is, “he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 11).

If men wish for that unity that we once had in the kingdom, then men should work for it – seeing we have the full and complete Standard God has provided us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). To attain that unity, there must be a walking by the same rule (Philippians 3:16). And men will have to begin abiding by the Word more closely, rather than trying to see how far they can drift, and yet have fellowship maintained with the faithful. All such find that such testing meets with a “No, we cannot fellowship such.” There is every good reason from God for thus saying, “No,” and not one good reason for violating Ephesians 5:11 in order to cater to men.