Why Are We Divided?
I do not know if there has ever been a time since the 1st Century when there has been so much talk about unifying the Church. The problem is that we are more divided than ever and that division keeps increasing on nearly a daily basis. In fact, those who speak the most about unity seem to be the ones that are dividing it the most. One of the biggest problems and in essence the root of all the other issues that divide the church is the lack of truth or understanding truth.
John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. KJV
Jesus said that knowledge of the the truth would makes us free and the way to know that truth is to continue in His Word. Many claim to be His disciples or students and yet there is great diversity of opinion as to what the truth of His word is and how to apply it, Many are not free but are in bondage to rituals, traditions and a myriad of man made dogmas. Some of those things would be hilarious if they were not taken so seriously and have such a hold on people. Others border on the fringe of insanity and yet find multitudes who cling to them as though written by the finger of God on Sinai in their presence.
Scripture is twisted or wrested so out of context that it makes no sense what the proponents of their interpretation say it means and yet it is presented as truth and deceives many. There is an attitude of toleration of multiple interpretations as if there can be many different truths without any conflict or call to militate against the various positions.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV
Notice that Jesus did not say that He was a truth or one of many truths. He said He was the truth. The one and only truth. Thus anything that is not absolutely accurate about Him and not in correct relationship to Him must be a lie since it is not the truth about Him.
There are numerous ideas or doctrines about who Jesus Christ was, is and will be. Only one doctrine is right because only one can be the truth about the Truth, Jesus Christ. All else is error and must be condemned as error, a lie or heresy. He does not tolerate error. How often did He correct false doctrine by saying, “you have heard it said, but I say unto you”? Even when He did not use that phrase He corrected the teachings or beliefs of all the various groups, Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Herodians, Greeks, Romans as well as individual preferences that were not in alignment with the truth of the Word and in as such not in alignment with Him, the Truth.
John 16:12-14
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. KJV
The Spirit was sent to guide us into “all” truth. Not just essentials and avoiding nonessentials or those things within the “pale of orthodoxy” but He will guide into all truth. Thus there is no such thing as nonessential doctrine. “In essentials unity and in nonessentials charity” sound magnanimous, gracious, loving and all that, but it is not biblical.
If something is true then the Spirit’s job is to guide us into it and the Spirit is not about just doing nonessential busy work. Sure, you may not lose your soul if you have some doctrines wrong but Christianity is about much more than salvation and if God wrote about it then it is essential that we know the truth about it. If we are to be conformed into His image does His image only consist of what we determine essential or is His image about everything that He is, created, expects, desires and commands?? Should be an easy answer.
When you glad hand and fellowship with people who hold to false doctrine or error you are not conforming yourself to the image of Christ. You may be using some worldly concept of love, grace, tolerance etc, like going along to get along, but that is not what Christ did. Had He done so, they would have never crucified Him. They would have welcomed Him into the Ministerium and asked Him to pray some mush prayer at City Hall’s various functions. Instead, He confronted and corrected error no matter who held to it or got mad about it. Only any given subject, He ticked off the Left, the Right, the politicos, the patriots, the moderates and at times even those who followed Him.
Truth had to be told and lies, errors or heresies revealed. There was no going along to get along or allowing brethren to remain entrenched in lies, traditions or misconceptions. We are to come out from among the unbelievers and be separate rather than touching or clinging to the unclean thing. We are told to not fellowship with those who call themselves Christians, but are not living as such or rather not living out the truth that is within them if they indeed be brethren. We are to mark them which cause divisions. What causes division? Truth or rather departure from it. Light drives out the darkness and truth, by its very nature must drive out error. Thus those who cause error to enter the church cause the division. That error may come by false doctrine or false living but at the introduction of it truth must do its job and confront, correct and cast out if error is not repented of and brought into submission to the truth, hence division.
John 18:37,38
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. KJV
It would be understandable if only lost people like Pilate had this question about what is truth, but many who name the name of Christ have the same question since they are so willing to tolerate and condone error, heresy and sin. They do not want to be ungracious, unloving, legalistic and all that stuff. We are commanded to try the spirits and to walk in truth but how can you do that if you do not want to confront error? If you know truth, then all else is error and you should hate it for it is not of the truth and thus a form or appearance of the spirit of Anti-Christ.
Only one mode of baptism is truth. The others are errors or lies. There is only one candidate for baptism. All other teaching is error. Baptism is either required for salvation or it is not. One teaching is error. You are either eternally secure or not. Only one is true. Just go down the line. No matter how many teachings are given on any topic only one is truth and the others are lies.
This is why you should never tell someone that they should be in church no matter which one they choose. That is condoning error or being ignorant of the truth yourself. While I will, for the sake of argument, concede that no church is 100% correct that doesn’t mean there are not those are closer to that 100% and many, many farther away with some at or near 0% correct. Do not attend the church of your choice, but rather the church with the most truth. How can you know?
2 Tim 2:15-18
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. KJV
You have to study or be diligent in the Word yourself. You have to become immersed in the Word allowing the Spirit to teach you. Yes, there is a correct hermeneutic to Bible study lest you come up with a wrong interpretation because you started with a wrong premise, but study you must seeking the Spirit’s enlightenment.
Be careful who you listen to as there are plenty of profane and vain babblers about in this age. Notice that Paul had no problem naming names and stating the false doctrine. When you do that the ones that hold the doctrine or those weak in knowledge fuss about it. No matter, do it anyway for it is part of your walking in truth. It is not unloving or ungracious. If I tell someone their favorite preacher or teacher is spouting error I am not their enemy because I tell them the truth. I am seeking their safety and edification lest their faith be overthrown.
John 17:17-21
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. KJV
You study the Word because it is truth. Many people seek all sorts of ways to a deeper life or to be sanctified and yet it is through the Word that such things are achieved. People believe in the truth only if we are speaking the truth. Want unity? It only comes by truth. You don’t agree to disagree.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? KJV
Because of pride, self-seeking, apathy, excitement, culture, fear and many other things most people be they lost or believing will not study. They will not seek and hence they will not know the truth. The lost will lose their soul. The truly saved will lose influence and personal power here and rewards at the Bema because they refuse to be free in the truth and to shun error and its promoters. They will entrench their friends and loved ones in their error by their failure to confront them with it thus condemning those people to Hell or spiritual failure. How loving and gracious is that?
How’s you freedom? Do you know and walk in truth? He is the Truth! Seek Him and His Word before it is too late! The Church will never be united. It will walk in division until He returns but be sure that He will not divide you as a goat from His sheep so that you spend eternity in Hell. Maranatha!!
