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”