How to Handle Divisiveness in the Church

If there is one area where we must pay due diligence, it is in the area of relationships with other believers and within the Body of Christ.  This is true whether we are members or attendants of a local church or not.  People are leaving churches because they can't get along with other members of the church.  There may be doctrinal differences, or some members may be doing too much within the church and there is no room for others to get involved.  And in every case, someone gets hurt or offended, and it is nearly impossible to make things right without a great deal of humility and honesty on both parts.   People generally do not want to change, and so they fail to communicate their differences in a non-threatening way, talk things over, and come to some kind of amicable agreement.  And yet The Lord demands this of us in His commandment to love others as we love ourselves.  Let's take a look at this unconditional love that The Lord is talking about: 

1Co 13:1    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1Co 13:2    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1Co 13:3    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1Co 13:4    Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 1Co 13:5    Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1Co 13:6    Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 1Co 13:7    Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

The word "charity" in the KJV means love.  Many times I have wondered how we can love in such a selfless, generous way, always thinking of the other person first, putting ourselves at the back of the line, instead of always trying to be in first place.  Perhaps a great example of this kind of love and the attitude we need to have are found in the following: 

Mar 10:35    And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

Mar 10:36    And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

Mar 10:37    They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

Mar 10:38    But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

Mar 10:39    And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

Mar 10:40    But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

Mar 10:41    And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

Mar 10:42    But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Mar 10:43    But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

 

Mar 10:44    And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Mar 10:45    For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

This is a sharp rebuke in verses 43 and 44, and yet how often do we see this happening in the local church?  Someone or more than one want to run things the way they see fit and are not even open to the ideas, suggestions and inspirations of others, so no one else gets to use their particular gifts.  Sometimes the Spirit is quenched altogether, because not even The Lord is consulted before decisions are made that affect everyone. 

When the Spirit of God is allowed to work in churches and individual lives, what we will see is a softening of hearts. When people's hearts are softened, pliable and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, then we see a submissive person willing to please God in everything they are asked to do.  But even without submissive hearts, we are to submit to God and one another regardless: 

Eph 5:21    Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 

This type of submission applies to everyone, and means that when we submit to one another, we are reverencing God and also submitting to Him because we are obeying His Word. 

 

Many times you will find cliques in the local church – a group of people will regularly get together and no one else is really welcomed into that group as they should be. This has happened to me on more than one occasion, although I have to admit, I have also been in cliques in a church setting.  Women's groups can be bad for this.  Sometimes groups will split off and start their own church or ministry because they disagree with the ways or doctrines of their local church.  I've heard of such cases and when someone from that local church tried to attend, they were not allowed in, and promptly told to leave.  In another situation, a couple were made to feel very unwelcome and were warned in no uncertain terms that their particular denomination were not welcome in that particular closed group.  Sometimes this happens so cruelly, the person or people asked to leave may never recover from it.   How can such a group grow and be blessed?  I cannot find Scripture to support such an ungodly attitude.  If salvation is open to all, shouldn't the doors of any church organization or ministry also be open to all, especially other believers?  

The book of James addresses cliques and showing preferential treatment to others in Chapter 2: 

Jas 2:1    My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Jas 2:2    For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; Jas 2:3    And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Jas 2:4    Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Jas 2:5    Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jas 2:6    But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Jas 2:7    Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Jas 2:8    If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:9    But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Jas 2:10    For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Jas 2:11    For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Jas 2:12    So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Jas 2:13    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Pay particular attention to verses 8, 9 and  13: 

Jas 2:8    If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:9    But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 

Jas 2:13    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 

There is much more to write on this topic, particularly having to do with forgiveness, and also the definition and functions of the Body of Christ, but that can wait for another blog.   Suffice it to say that when divisions occur in the church and in the community of believers, we must pay close attention to the Word and be very careful to handle it in a way that is honoring to God and befitting to the Gospel.

How to Deal with Scriptural Error

With all the strange movements and cults circulating around in the world and in some of the churches today, we need to know how to discern what is truth from error.  We may read up on the movements and cults themselves to try and understand what we should be avoiding, and we may be trying to find Scripture to see what we need to be doing about it.  But we need to be very careful that we do not take Scripture out of context and that we understand what The Lord would have us do in each situation when we are faced with someone who may be or is in obvious error to the Scriptures. 

As I mentioned in my last blog, after  hearing both sides of the arguments from fundamentals vs. Pentecostals/Charismatics, I came to the conclusion that they were both in error because, in some cases, their attitudes towards each other were not honoring to God or to one another.  They did not put love and forgiveness ahead of their need to be right, neither were they focusing on reaching the lost for whom Christ died.  Paul addresses these issues in I Corinthians 3 and Philippians 1.  If we confess to know and love Jesus as our Lord and Savior and desire to sincerely and honestly live a life that is pleasing to Him, and want to share the Good News of the Gospel according to His commandment to do so, then we are on the same team.  We need to move on, and put aside our doctrinal differences. 

In the case of believers who may be in error,  first of all, we need to make sure without a doubt that they are in error according to Scripture.  Aside from having a working knowledge of the Bible from our own time spent reading and researching it, and from trusted men and women of God who are able to teach us through a local Bible-believing church, we need to rely above all on the Holy Spirit.  While we may think that we need a degree in theology to know what well-known theologians know about the Bible, sometimes the more education like this we have,  the more it is a stumbling block to understanding the things of God.  Our first and best teacher is the Holy Spirit Himself.  When we read the Word of God, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and reveal His Word to us.  Jesus promised His disciples that When He left to be with the Father in heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit. 

Joh 16:7    Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh 16:8    And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Joh 16:9    Of sin, because they believe not on me; Joh 16:10    Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Joh 16:11    Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Joh 16:12    I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Joh 16:13    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.

Joh 16:14    He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Joh 16:15    All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Notice verse 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. 

The Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself, but notice in verse 14: 

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

We need to ask ourselves when we are unsure if someone is speaking for God and according to His Word, if they are glorifying Jesus.  If human error is present (and many times it will be), are we drawn to Jesus in spite of it?  Is there humility in the person we suspect might be in error?   Are they teachable and want to know if they are in error, or are they closed and prideful when approached and challenged in their beliefs?   

We need to be careful how we deal with believers and unbelievers whom we suspect are in error, and the Bible is very specific on how to deal with that person.   

2Ti 2:24    And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 2Ti 2:25    In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

Rom 12:10    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 

The Bible also warns us when we should have nothing to do with someone who is in error, since they cannot and will not repent.  

Eph 5:1    Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; Eph 5:2    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Eph 5:3    But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Eph 5:4    Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Eph 5:5    For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Eph 5:6    Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Eph 5:7    Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Eph 5:8    For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Eph 5:9    (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Eph 5:10    Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Eph 5:11    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Eph 5:12    For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 

Notice verse 5, 6 and 7: 

Eph 5:5    For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Eph 5:6    Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Eph 5:7    Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 

And notice verses 11 and 12: 

Eph 5:11    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Eph 5:12    For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 

If we go to Psalm 1 we see a similar admonition that comes with a promise: 

Psa 1:1    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2    But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3    And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psa 1:4    The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psa 1:5    Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Psa 1:6    For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. 

Above all, we need to ensure that our own heart does not become corrupted because we have unwittingly and unwisely become involved with what the Bible calls evil and unrighteous.  We must love righteousness and hate evil, but we are never told to hate anyone or mistreat them because they do evil.  So we must be very careful that we keep our hearts, thoughts and actions pure before God.  Look at the following: 

Jer 17:9    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

1Jn 2:15    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17    And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

The importance of our own walk with God, which will include diligently searching the Scriptures and praying without ceasing, and obediently living according to His Word, will prepare us more than anything else to recognize error and also how to deal with it when we do.  Above all, we need to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit who has promised to guide us into all truth.  May we be wise and discerning in these days of spiritual darkness and apostasy and do all to the glory of God.  May we continue to ask, "What would Jesus have us think, say, and do?"

The Greatest Threat to the Church

In the past few months, I have written some blogs about various movements in the church to be aware of, and indeed to avoid altogether.  I have also written blogs about how to tell when someone is truly saved or if they are just pretending to be, and are really a false prophet that the Bible warns about.  For awhile now, I have not been writing blogs, but instead observing what is truly going on in Christendom and in some of the churches today.  What I discovered was most startling, and one of the greatest assaults of Satan on the Body of Christ I think I have ever witnessed first-hand, and unsuspecting believers are falling for it hook, line and sinker. 

As you probably already know, there are so many different denominations and arms of Protestantism in the world that it would be difficult to number them all.  I have been familiar with many of them and have attended several different denominations through the years.  In each denomination, I was careful to discern whether that particular church was really sincere about God and teaching the many truths of His Word or not.  Did the leadership glorify God?  Did they know enough of Scripture to handle the Word of God correctly?  Did they seem to have a love in their heart for God and one another?  Was this love demonstrated in some form of service and outreach to those in need and to the unsaved?  If I disagreed with something that they hadn’t backed up with Scripture, were they willing to listen and be admonished, or try to admonish me if I was wrong?  Depending on how they responded to me, I could discern whether they cared more about being right (in their own eyes) than whether they had offended me (and others) by either what they said, failed to say, or what they did that could not be backed up by Scripture.  In other words, were they following the first and second commandment to love God and love your neighbour as yourself?  I was met with disappointment almost every time.  Most of the time, I was brushed off and there was no love or humility or even an openness to hear what I had to say and why.    In some cases, I was discouraged from attending the church or fellowship altogether.  One church asked me to leave because I did not follow their (un-Biblical) man-made set of rules that had to be signed and strictly adhered to.  In each instance, I went away with sadness and disappointment.  I had to go through a healing process from the grief.  This is not the Lord’s way. 

In the past few months, I have heard so much hear-say of various movements circulating through the churches, I began to research them in earnest to see what was going on.  When I research, I use the Bible (King James Version), a concordance and a couple of different trusted commentaries (Matthew Henry and Tyndale).  Then I get to work on the Internet and spend many hours a day reading about the various movements (given as a warning) sweeping through Christendom, which people are involved in them, which churches are affected and so on.  Then I go a step further and go to the actual sites of these people and churches/organizations and see what they believe (statement of faith, mission statement) and also how they have responded to these claims that they and their ministry are cultic (not all have responded on their sites, although they may have responded elsewhere).   

What I found is that differences of opinion abound in the different denominations/sects/fellowships.  The main issues that more fundamental/traditional/orthodox Christians had were to do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, whether they still exist for today, and especially the attitude in which they are taught and encouraged (which the fundamentalist thought was exclusivity and arrogant – calling some Gnostics).  Generally, their overall fear is that charismatic-minded believers are trusting more in the emotional experience than they are in the Word of God.  Prophetic messages and revelations are called into question because they appear to elevate the status of man more than glorify God (humanistic and unscriptural).  What was interesting is that many of the people who are warning about these movements had not actually shared that they had been directly affected by them (other than disagreeing with their theology), but had seemed to only read up about them.  This is what caused me consternation and to doubt whether some or any of these claims were actually true, or just hearsay.  So when all is said and done and I had done several days and hours of research, I seemed to be going around in circles.  The statement of faith for some (not all since I couldn’t even find their web sites) of the ones being accused were soundly Biblical, and everything else on the site appeared above reproach, and since I myself or anyone I had talked to that was concerned hadn’t actually met the people or been to their services, I came to the conclusion that a lot of it amounted to bickering amongst believers.  And I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the most serious problem of all.  I know many people are sincere who believe these are dangerous movements and perhaps some of them are to be avoided (if this is clearly stated in Scripture), but the ones most often accused (Pentecostals, Charismatics, for example) would be equally cautious of fundamentals who have seemed to neglect major and important portions of the Bible (gifts, healings, faith, and so on).  Some have even dared to utter blasphemy against the Holy Spirit believing that tongues is the work of the devil.  This is more cause for alarm than all the movements put together, for if they are erroneously saying this, their own salvation is at stake! 

Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Mat 12:26  And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Mat 12:27  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Mat 12:28  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Mat 12:29  Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Mat 12:30  He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Mat 12:31  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Mat 12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.  

Bickering amongst believers is not new.  Let’s look at the following Scriptural example: 

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1Co 3:18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1Co 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 3:20  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.  

The main goal is to preach Christ.  Look at what Paul says:

Php 1:15  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

Php 1:16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

Php 1:17  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Php 1:18  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Php 1:19  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Php 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Php 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  

Do we think we have a special truth and because we don’t believe or practice certain things, we are better?  Or do we think that because we do believe and practice certain things and others don’t, that we are better?  Do you see where this is going?  We’ve made it about us and not about Christ!  That is a sad commentary on the Christian church today.  Where are the faithful who love Jesus and just want to serve Him and win the lost for Him?  Are we too busy bickering and arguing amongst ourselves about who is right and who is wrong that we are forgetting the Great Commission?  Who will win the lost?  Together we are a mighty force against the wiles of the devil.  We have the Spirit of God and the truth of God’s Word.  We are the body of Christ, all the members necessary and working together to the glory of God, despite our differences.  But if we are divided and scattered, and constantly at odds, Satan wins.  To me, this is far more insidious than all the movements in the world today, for the people whom Christ loves and died for are on their way to hell unless we can set aside our differences and reach them before it is too late.