Causing Division
Introduction. (1
Cor. 1:10). The biblical teaching on unity in the church is a fundamental
principle that calls us to be distinct from the religious world. Most of the
world views religious division as acceptable before God. The Bible teaches that
believers in Jesus must be united in doctrine and practice.
As Christians we
embrace this doctrine when it comes to what is done by those of outside of the
church, but Scripture also teaches the importance of unity in a more localized
sense. Those who work and worship together in a local congregation must be
united and work together in peace. There are great warnings given to those who
would compromise this by causing division. This morning let’s consider what the
Bible teaches about causing division.
I. God hates one who sows discord among brethren (Prov. 6:16-19).
A. “Discord” Heb. medan
“strife or contention” (BDB).
B. There are
many situations that arise in which we can either offer encouragement,
consolation, and counsel that brings brothers and sisters together, or we can
fuel hurt feelings, stir up anger, and add to “strife and contention.” God
hates this kind of behavior.
II. Sensual persons who do not have the Spirit “cause
divisions” (Jude 17-19).
A. “Sensual”
Gr. psuchikos. The noun psuche refers to the soul. Properly this
means “pertaining to the soul,” but when used in contrast to the spirit
it refers to simply the animate part of man—his or her feeling, emotions, and
desires.
B. “Cause
divisions” Gr. apodiorizo “to disjoin, part, separate from another”
(Thayer). From a word that means to mark off boundaries.
1. One
who does not have a spiritual attitude looks for occasions to mark off
boundaries between brethren.
2. They
divide people into camps. Either you are on their side or you are the enemy.
Jude tells us this is not from God. Such a person follows his or her “ungodly
lusts.”
III. Separating into parties is “carnal” (1 Cor. 3:3-4).
A. “Carnal” Gr.
sarkikos “having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the
animal appetites” (Thayer). To cause parties among God’s people, and divide
into camps centered around particular individuals is “fleshly” and not
spiritual.
B. The “carnal
mind” cannot please God (Rom. 8:5-9).
1. Note: the
“carnal mind” is death (vs. 6). This is not a minor thing. It is not just a bad
habit. It can jeopardize the soul.
2. The “carnal
mind is enmity against God” (vs. 7a). We noted at the beginning that God hates
sowing discord among brethren (Prov. 6:19). Here we see that the carnal mind
that would do this is at enmity with God.
3. This
attitude “is not subject to God”—in fact it cannot be (vs. 7b). If we have an
attitude that is more interested in rallying people to our side, our
perspective, or our side it is to live “in the flesh” and if I do so I “cannot
please God” (vs. 8).
IV. Christians are to “note” those who cause divisions
and “avoid them” (Rom. 16:17-18).
A. KJV “mark” Gr. skopeo
“to fix one’s eyes upon, direct one’s attention to” (Thayer).
B. “Divisions” dichostasia
“dissension, division” (Thayer), from the prefix meaning “two” and the noun
stasia referring to one’s state or standing. This is a person that
creates two standings—two parties.
C. “Avoid” Gr. ekklino
“to turn aside”—“turn away from” (Thayer). Christians are to turn aside
from those who promote divisions. This is what demands our separation from denominations,
but it is also what demands that we do not tolerate divisive and party
attitudes among ourselves.
D. A stronger
charge is found to those in Thessalonica (2 Thess. 3:13-15). This is not
focused on those who cause division, but generally speaks of rejecting God’s
word. Note: they were to “note” such a person. Gr. semeioo “to mark, to
note, distinguish by marking” (Thayer).
1. The noun semeion
is used throughout the NT for “signs” and “wonders” that indicated some
miraculous action.
2. Paul
commands that a mark or indication be put upon this person and “do not keep
company with him, that he may be ashamed.” This is church
discipline—withdrawal.
V. The church is to reject a “divisive man” after the
first and second admonition (Titus
3:9-11).
A. KJV “heretick”
transliterates Gr. hairetikos meaning literally “fitted or able to take
or choose a thing” but came to refer to one who was “factious” (ASV, NASB) or a
“divisive person” (NIV), “a person who stirs up division” (ESV).
1. Great harm can
come to the church when one is allowed to act in ways that are “divisive.”
Souls are discouraged. Believers lose faith. The unbeliever is not converted,
because he or she sees the division and hypocrisy of believers.
2. This is
what Jesus addressed when He prayed to God that those who believe in Him “may
be one”—“that the world may believe” (John 17:21).
B. The church
is to “reject” such a one. Gr. paraiteomai meaning lit. “to ask along
side, beg to have near one” (Thayer), but it also speaks of what is done when
this entreaty is rejected. Its secondary meaning is “to refuse, decline, to
shun, avoid” (Thayer). After efforts have been made to correct the sinful
attitudes of one who causes division such a person is to be shunned, refused
(probably referring to withdrawal).
VI. The church is not what it ought to be when it
comes together and there are “divisions”
(1 Cor. 11:17-19).
A. Note: Paul does
not praise this. In fact, he says when it happens the church coming “together”
is “for the worse” (vs. 17). What a condition! Can you imagine? God commands
Christians to assemble together (Heb. 10:25), but division creates a situation
in which coming together is “for the worse.”
B. Why is one
who causes division to be rebuked, avoided, and rejected? Because such a one
causes the assembly of the Lord’s church—a time in which (when it is as it
should be) the unbeliever that comes into the assembly will fall down on his
face, worship God, and report that God is truly among you (1 Cor. 14:25)—such a
person causes it to be “for the worse.”
C. The weak are
discouraged. Those of struggling faith say to themselves “my unbelieving
friends get along better than this!” The unbeliever says “I don’t want any part
of this mess.” It is wrong! It is sinful!
1. Those who
cause it sin.
2. Those who
foster it sin.
3. Those who
tolerate it may well sin.
Conclusion.
Are there ever times when division is necessary? Some have seen vs. 19 an
answer to this. Note: “there must also be factions among you, that those who
are approved may be recognized among you.” Some have understood this to say
that the way those “approved” can be recognized is divisions that are necessary
or demanded by adherence to the truth.
That is true to
some degree but I’m not sure that is what this verse is saying.
•
Note: in this text he has heard about these divisions (vs. 18a)
and he believes it (vs. 18b). He believes it because of the fact that some are
“approved” by them in their divisions—“I am of Paul” or “I am Apollos.” Is he
talking about those “approved” by God or “approved” by their party divisions?
•
I think the answer lies in what we have already seen, and find
elsewhere in Scripture. We have seen that the church is to “avoid,” “reject,”
and in some cases to even withdraw from the “divisive person.” That is
necessary division.
•
When people are unwilling to follow the teaching of Scripture God’s
people are require to separate themselves from such attitudes (2 John 9-11).
Even so, it is God’s will that His
people be united. Will we have difficulties? Sure, but God’s people, with
attitudes that God commands will find ways to come together and resolve
differences in peace (Eph. 4:1-3). May it be that those who are identified with
this congregation ever strive to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace”