A lengthy letter regarding division in the church was received recently, without going into all the details, nevertheless, which I would like to generally address here. I have seen my share of division in the church and division continues to divide congregations from time to time. Almost every congregation experiences these type of pains (irrespective of whether it actually divides) at some time in its history. Brethren have a number of theories regarding the solution to division and unrest in any given congregation, including: (1) “Things will never get any better around here until there are some funerals.” (2) “Anyone who disagrees with me is wrong and I’ll make our disagreement a test of fellowship, irrespective of whether the conflict is a matter of opinion or a violation of biblical doctrine.”
Polarization of congregations, schools and programs throughout the brotherhood is commonplace, sometimes because of doctrine and sometimes without consideration of biblical doctrine. Polarization within congregations over opinions as well as biblical doctrine is common, too. Division seldom results in any good when it occurs between congregations or within congregations.
However, division is not catastrophic in every case. Sharp contention between the apostle Paul and Barnabas caused them to part from each other (Acts 15:36-41). These two stellar servants of God divided over opinion. In that instance, two good works occurred as they each selected a missionary partner and went on separate missionary journeys. The contention and division was not permanent or considered even in the heat of passion as a test of fellowship; John Mark, the object of the contention, was later a useful attendant to the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:11).
Sometimes division is necessary to preserve righteous souls (2 Corinthians 6:17); however, the context of the passage pertains not to division among brethren but to dividing brethren from the wicked world. Failure on the part of individual Christians to separate from five of the seven churches of Asia, were the congregations unwilling to repent, would have been necessary to preserve the righteous souls (Revelation 2-3).
Ordinarily, though, division should not be allowed to raise its ugly head in any congregation of the Lord’s church (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 3:1-3). Brethren need courage to disallow a Diotrephes to take over a local congregation (3 John 9-10). Preachers with honest hearts who make mistakes should be corrected discreetly (Acts 18:26); but, preachers and teachers who are impenitent and refuse to be corrected with the Word of God need to be identified (Romans 16:17-18). Divisive persons must not be allowed much time to ill affect a congregation (Titus 3:10-11 New King James Version).
Since we are humans with the typical human frailties, each child of God must resolve to do his or her best to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. May we strive toward Christian unity and biblical balance. May each of us be big enough to be as tolerant of one another as God’s Word allows and not make tests of fellowship over things that are not matters of biblical authority. We do want to spend eternity together with God in heaven, don’t we? I can’t see that happening as long as we cannot stomach each other (fellow Christians) on earth, can you?
