Division
"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
-1 Corinthians 1:10
Being in ministry, especially one that is online with many outside voices chiming in, I’ve noticed just how much division there is within the body of Christ. I’m sure you see it too– I mean, consider the fact that there are over 40,000 denominations!
That being said, all this division goes directly against Jesus’ heart’s desire spoken in John 17:20-21: “I do not pray for these [His twelve disciples] alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
God’s desire and goal for us believers is unity which is why we are called the body of Christ. We are many parts, but one unit under Christ (who is our Head).
Why is there so much division among Christians?
There is an exorbitant amount of division because we have an enemy (the devil). He knows that unity is God’s desire among His children, so he is going to do everything possible to sow discord among us. He knows that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:24). Soldiers not obeying their commander weakens the whole army. A sports team member that doesn’t follow the coach’s play fails the whole team. A musician who doesn’t watch the conductor distorts the whole symphony. A marching band member who ignores the drum major disrupts the flow of the performance. A Christian who bickers and argues with another brother becomes a bad witness of what we should be.
And that is what our enemy wants.
Looking at the context of 1 Corinthians 1:10, the divisiveness among the Corinthian Christians began because they started claiming to be followers of Paul or followers of Apollos instead of identifying as followers of Jesus! Is anything different today? Christians revere and exalt pastors, evangelists, teachers, the church fathers, etc. above following Jesus!
This is just one way that division creeps in among us. The other, more obvious ways are through the differences of doctrinal interpretations. Other areas where division occurs is through rumors and gossip that spread like wildfire.
When is division necessary, though?
If we want to know when division is necessary, we need to know what it is that unites us. The obvious answer is Jesus. But what about Jesus? Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in Jesus, but they are considered a cult. The New Age practice believes in Christ, but again, they are not Christians. Ephesians 4:4-5 lays out the requirements:
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in…
one hope of your calling (the hope of our calling is Jesus’ return and our resurrection, elaborated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15).
one Lord (there is only one worthy of our praise).
one faith (only faith in Jesus can provide everlasting life).
one baptism (this likely refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit with whom we are sealed with upon believing in Jesus).
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (there is only one God, which implies that Jesus is also God).
This is the basic groundwork of what we believe as Christians. Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot be Christians because they don’t believe Jesus is God. The New Age belief is not Christian because they don’t recognize Jesus as Lord. All other religions (and even some denominations) cannot be Christians because they don’t put all their faith in Jesus’ sacrifice alone to atone for their sins.
So, when this foundation of our beliefs is compromised, it is appropriate to separate from those people. Jude 1:18-19 says, “...there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”
Paul also warns in Romans 16:17-18, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
While this is talking about dividing from unbelievers who are causing division in the body of Christ, there is also scriptural precedent for separating from a brother or sister in Christ.
Titus 3:9-11 says, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”
Those disputes are “foolish” because they don’t have anything to do with the message of the cross. The quarreling is unnecessary and unfruitful.
The bottom-line within these passages of scripture is that division is necessary with those who are causing division, particularly contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ!
Lastly, Paul teaches that division is necessary within the body of Christ when a member is practicing sin without repentance. You can read the whole section in 1 Corinthians 5, but verses 11 and 13 say, “I am writing to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler– not even to eat with such a one… Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” Paul’s reasoning for this is that a little leaven will leaven the whole lump; in other words, sin condoned will begin to spread throughout the church. This is a heavy teaching
How do we maintain unity?
Remember that God shows no partiality.
Galatians 3:26-28 — “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Keep your eyes on Christ.
Hebrews 12:1-2 — “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
Remember that we are Christ’s body.
1 Corinthians 12:24-25 — “But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
Humbly put others before yourself.
Philippians 2:3-4 — “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Love one another.
Colossians 3:13 — "Bear with one another, making allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you."
Pray for God’s wisdom.
James 1:17 — “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
Take a Moment:
I’ve listed a 5-day “challenge” for you this week to apply the message from this devotional.
Day 1: Reflect — Have you unintentionally or intentionally caused division on issues that are unrelated to biblical standards?
Day 2: Pray — Use Jesus’ prayer in John 17 to guide you how to pray for unity among believers today. Also take time to pray for the needs of other believers. When we focus on others, it makes all the other issues and disagreements seem small.
Day 3: Read — Read Romans 14. When it comes to personal convictions and opinions, this is the passage that addresses how to deal with those.
Day 4: Worship — Listen to “Make Us One (John 17)” by Gather Worship. Click here to listen on YouTube.
Day 5: Act — Ephesians 4:2-3 says, “…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, [be] diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Is there a relationship where you need to be more diligent to preserve unity? Take action today to be a peacemaker with patience, love, humility, and gentleness.
Maintaining unity by fixing our eyes on the founder of our faith, Jesus Christ, is what means to live by faith.
-Alina