Category: Division in The Church

1 Corinthians 3:4 (NKJV) 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Yesterday, we talked about factions and two reasons why factions exist within the body of Christ.

Today, let’s look at a third reason.

3. False teachings.

False teachings can bring great division within the body of Christ.

Sometimes this is due to intentional actions that were created and taken solely to create division. Other times, it is due more to people breaking away from the truth to follow these false teachings, resulting in them separating from those who stick more closely to the truth of God’s word.

Between yesterday and today, these are only 3 examples. And within these 3 examples there are dozens (or possibly even hundreds) of ways to break them down more precisely.

The list of things that divides the church is endless. And much of it is petty indeed.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is something new. It’s not. It’s been happening since the days when Jesus walked among men.

How do we fix this?

It’s simple, but yet very complicated. That’s just the way of human beings.

The simplicity lies in God’s word, and in us being dedicated enough to study it and learn it without prejudice. In other words, we need to be willing to read and study it honestly, so that God can show us His truth, without influence from unholy or inaccurate sources.

The complicated part comes when we have to lay aside our own (mostly pre-conceived) opinions and acknowledge that our own belief may be wrong.

Because the body of Christ is made up of (mostly fickle) humans, we will never get it 100% right.

But it would behoove us to pay close attention to the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides us, so that we can see and hear truth for what it is.

And then, if we are shown that what we believed to be true is off, even a little, we need to humble ourselves enough to allow God to change or adjust that belief.

If we refuse to allow God to change our minds, we are not offending people, but God Himself, with our pride and stubbornness.

Let us not be as the Israelites were, a stiff-necked people who ignored God’s leading and spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness on what should have been a 12-day journey.

Exodus 32:9 (NKJV) 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (NKJV) 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

These verses bring to mind one word; factions.

Factions is defined as small, organized dissenting groups within a larger group.

Factions within the church are not of God. They are not Biblical, and they are not Christlike.

To be clear, factions are not the cause of the division. Division causes the creation of factions.

The church is full of factions that are thriving.

You may ask, “how so?”.

Let’s take a look at just a few of the things that cause division, leading to various factions within the body of Christ.

1. Denominations.

Denominations are not Biblical or of God. They are manmade.

Denominations divide the body of Christ based on differences in overall interpretations of scripture, or because of differences in beliefs that sum up their opinions on what scripture says.

Some of these are minor. Others are very major. We will not cover the actual differences here, but suffice it to say that this is a very big deal.

2. Personal opinions or preferences.

Personal opinions or preferences can cause great divisions between individual members of the body of Christ. And those divisions can spill over into localized bodies of believers, creating a larger overall divide.

Let’s talk more about factions tomorrow, and we will wrap this up then.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!