On Separation in the Trenches
by Greg Linscott
Sometimes, in trying to make sure we are diligent in “the anise and cummin” of the separation issue, we Fundamentalists can forget the bigger picture. I was reminded of this as I read my local newspaper today.
Leaders to collaborate for Holy Week services
By DARLA L. PICKETT
Staff WriterSKOWHEGAN — Parishioners of five local Christian churches will reach across the divide of their individual religious convictions during Holy Week, collectively sharing services from Palm Sunday to Easter sunrise.
The Skowhegan Ecumenical Council, comprised of leaders from five churches, will gather their flocks together and — for the first time ever — will share Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday at the new Church of the Nazarene on East Madison Road.
Worshippers also will be invited to break bread together after the service at a breakfast hosted by the Centenary United Methodist Church on Dr. Mann Road, according to the Rev. George L. Hodgkins Jr. of that church.
Hodgkins said he and the other ministers meet once a month for breakfast to share ideas and plans. Two years ago, they began collectively putting into action a plan to help people in need of financial aid for food and fuel.
They also discuss quality-of-life issues and, in the case of Holy Week, talked about shared worship during this last week of Lent, the week immediately preceding Easter Sunday.
The week is observed in many Christian churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship.
“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for some time, but never have been able to pull it off,” Hodgkins said. “We were all thinking along the same line. With the Nazarene Church just moving in, it seemed an ideal place for a sunrise service. It also will be a wonderful way to celebrate as a faith community here in Skowhegan.”
Pastor Verne Haskell of the Church of the Nazarene said the plan will cap an uplifting time for his parishioners, who will move this Sunday to the new church. He said they will meet at 10 a.m. at the former church on North Avenue to say good-bye and travel en masse in a vehicle caravan to their new church home.
“We will have a 20-minute service (at North Avenue), a sort of farewell and give thanks for all the good years of ministry there,” Haskell said. “It’s a celebration service.”
Hodgkins and Father Maurice (Moe) Morin of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church said they are excited about the plans to share the week. Also part of the Council are the Rev. Mark Tanner of the Skowhegan Federated Church and the Rev. Lev Sherman of All Saints Episcopal Church.
Source: Central Maine Morning Sentinel, March 25, 2006
I don’t post this in arrogance- but to remind myself and those who might read that the integrity of the gospel must be the basis of our fellowship. I cannot, if I am to remain obedient to the Word of God, cooperate with religious leaders who add, detract, or diminish from the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Greg Linscott 
Exactly. Ths is where the line is drawn biblically. I am completely sympathetic about the conern that some of the things discussed elsewhere may soften the stance at this point, but sincerely wonder if we haven’t codified a slippery slope doctrine that goes beyond what we can biblically defend. This is, in my mind, one of the distinct challenges of our day, i.e., to be discerning about how to promote and practice obedience without confusing the differences between our applications and the biblical principles.
This is a late response, but I must say that Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus together can hardly be viewed as diminishing the gospel. Jesus maintained dialogue with a broad range of people, as did the Apostle Paul. It is in the arrogance of seperatism that we lose both the opportunity to proclaim truth to a wider audience and the platform to broaden our understanding of the church. Although I cannot affirm all of the teachings of the churches above, I have been enriched by considering their perspectives. It has not caused me to compromise my beliefs, but to solidify them. Salt and light are useless when hidden or held selfishly. Real faith does not cower in fear, but rises to proclaim the good news!
Hi Verne.
I have no problem with “considering the perspectives” of various churches. I also would heartily agree that our gospel witness should not be hidden or held selfishly.
However, I believe such a combined service undermines the integrity of the gospel. Roman Catholicism’s soteriology is not the Biblical gospel. From there, the issues of concern would be more diverse between the various churches and denominations- but it is not my purpose to enter into a personal critique of each church’s position.
Separation, however, is not a position rooted in fear. It is a realization that the truth must be proclaimed with clarity and fervency, but also with integrity. God’s love and acceptance of sinners on the merits of Christ’s atoning work is a wonderful truth we must proclaim- but we must also proclaim with urgency the message of God’s wrath toward sinners who do not repent of their sin and claim the mercy of God through Christ.
Thanks for responding here. I’d be happy to discuss these matters further with you over a cup of coffee sometime- my treat, of course!.