Acts 19:9-10 :

But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul cared for the churches like a parent cares for his own children. Sometimes, this kind of care means that the family has to move to get away from a harmful environment. In this case, as in many other cases, the synagogue started filling up with those who “were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the way” when Paul was trying to teach them.

When people say that moving from a church is not a good idea because we should learn to “bloom where we are planted” it doesn’t always prove to be good advice. Sometimes, voices that speak against the teaching of scripture gain an upper hand in a specific group and this forces the ones who want to spread the truth to have to separate themselves so that the truth can build and spread out again. The Bible does not teach us to sacrifice the truth for the sake of unity, although, this is a popular type of thinking in the world today. Here’s what the Bible says:

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 :

Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

This is the kind of thing that created the United States. Not that everyone had a perfect idea of Christianity who came to America, but there were some very harmful things being done in the state-run churches at the time.

Another place where I see the need for separation is in public school systems in which children are being taught humanist and secularist philosophy. It makes a great deal of sense for Christian parents to seek out better places for their children where they have a chance to learn truth so that they can speak the truth to others someday.