A church can experience unity in Christ until something happens that causes divisions in the church. Divisions in the church happen often. But what causes divisions in the church, who is responsible? And what do you do, when someone causes a division in the church? Let’s look at what the Bible says about divisions in the church and how to prevent them.
The Bible provides knowledge and insight in the spiritual realm
The Bible is the Word of God and possesses all the elements to gain knowledge and get insight into the spiritual realm. Therefore it’s important to enter the spiritual realm through the Word and not through your own insights, experience, and human revelations.
Every insight and revelation, that a person receives must line up with the Word. If this isn’t the case, you should reject the insight or revelation.
Because the devil doesn’t present himself and comes as a horrible monster. But the devil presents himself and comes as an angel of light and uses the words of God to mislead people. The devil comes and presents himself as ‘Jesus’.
There are many people, who have received a revelation of ‘Jesus’ that has led them and their followers astray and caused them to depart from the faith. That’s why it’s important to stay awake and watch and not believe every spirit, but rather test the spirits by the Word, whether they are from God or not (1 John 4:1).
A revelation from the devil always leads to pride, self-importance, self-righteousness, and sin.
We have received the Word and the Holy Spirit from God to lead and guide us into all truth. We need the Word and the Holy Spirit to test everything in this life to keep walking on the right path.
The responsibility of the church leaders
This also applies to everything that happens in the church. The leaders of a church are appointed to keep the body of Christ holy, pure, and righteous. The leaders are responsible for keeping and protecting the souls of the church.
They are the spiritual caretakers of the children of God. They are responsible for raising the children of God unto spiritual maturity. So that they walk with integrity, in holiness and righteousness, after the will of God, and act as mature sons of God (both males and females), just like Jesus.
Most churches focus on signs and wonders instead of sanctification, discipline, and developing a godly character. But the development of a godly character is more important than the signs and wonders, that follow the believers.
If believers don’t develop a godly character but only focus on signs and wonders, they shall eventually fall.
That’s because they are more focused on the natural manifestations than the things of the Spirit. Because of that, it’s easy for the devil to deceive believers.
Divisions are also the work of the devil. Before divisions take place in a church, a lot of things have already taken place in the spiritual realm.
If a church leader is spiritual and awake, the leader will notice the signals and take action to prevent a division. But unfortunately, not all church leaders are born again and spiritual.
Many church leaders are carnal and are led by their natural senses and rely on their human intellect. Because of that, many church leaders don’t see divisions coming.
What causes divisions in the church?
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit (Jude 1:17-18)
What does the Bible say about the cause of divisions in the church? God’s Word says, that divisions are caused by mockers; false teachers, deceivers, etc. These mockers can be church leaders but also members of the church.
Don’t underestimate the power of church members. It often happens, that manipulative people quietly enter the church and become members of the church. Then they attract and influence as many people as possible with their flattering and manipulative words.
They come with their own insights, knowledge, and theories. They speak evil of others, including the leaders of the church, so that, they set people up against each other or the leader(s) of the church and cause divisions.
These mockers are workers of the devil and have his character. Their purpose is to disrupt the unity in Christ and change the truth of God into lies.
The mockers, who are appointed in the church
But leaders and ministers, like preachers, apostles, evangelists, prophets, elders, deacons, etc., who are appointed in the church, can also cause divisions in the church. In Isaiah chapter three, we read about the mockers aka the unspiritual leaders of the people.
These mockers were not appointed by God, didn’t walk in God’s ways, and didn’t preach His words and truth. But these mockers mislead the people and cause the people of God to go astray.
What are the characteristics of mockers (unspiritual leaders)?
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:18-21)
The characteristics of mockers are, that they are unspiritual (carnal people) and walk after the flesh. They’re not born again and don’t have the Holy Spirit of God abiding in them. But they are natural man, who have the mind of this world.
They speak according to their own insight. Their words and deeds go against the Word of God and His will.
Mockers turn the truth of God into a lie. This way, they and the church members can keep living after the flesh in sin.
They are full of pride and consider themselves wise and prudent. And the people, who listen to them exalt them and consider them wise as well.
However, they weary the Lord with their words, by calling good evil and evil good.
Mockers put darkness for light and light for darkness. They justify and approve the sins and iniquities of people in the church.
Through their worldly knowledge and wisdom, their charismatic appearance, eloquence, their flattering and motivational words, and possibly their PhD, they are allowed and appointed in the church. From their position they’ll deceive the believers.
Mockers use the Bible for the lusts and desires of the flesh
These mockers walk after the flesh according to their own insight, ungodly lusts, and desires. They are prideful, rebellious, and stubborn, and do what they want to do, whereby they reject the true Word of God.
Mockers twist the words of God in such a way, that it seems like it is indeed written in the Word of God. They don’t use and apply the words of God to the spiritual man (the new man). But they use and apply the words of God to the carnal man (the old man).
This way, they can keep living after the lusts and desires of the flesh. They can keep doing those things, that they love, but go against the will of God.
Think about Jesus, when the devil tried to tempt Him in the wilderness. The devil didn’t use his own words. But the devil tried to tempt Jesus by using the words of God.
The devil tried to tempt Jesus by using the words of God to fulfill the lusts and desires of the flesh.
But Jesus knew the will of God. He knew that the Kingdom of God and the words of God were not meant to fulfill the lusts and desires of the flesh. Therefore, the devil didn’t succeed in tempting Jesus to sin.
Jesus defeated the devil with the spiritual truth of God’s Word. Jesus didn’t bow to the devil, the lusts and desires of the flesh, power, and riches. But Jesus stayed faithful to the will and the words of God (a.o. Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13 ) Read also: I will give you the riches of the world)).
How to prevent divisions in the church?
Jesus is our Example. He showed us how to prevent divisions in the church. Namely, by staying faithful to God’s Word and walking after the Spirit in the will of God and the love of God.
You don’t stay in the love of God by accepting everyone and everything and by allowing sin in the church. That is a false love. But you stay in the love of God by keeping His commandments, building yourself up in your most holy faith, and by praying in the Holy Spirit.
Only then, you will stay in Him, and remain spiritually awake, and discern good (the works of the Kingdom of God) from evil (the works of the kingdom of darkness).
When you walk after the Spirit and stay faithful to the Word, you shall be warned in the Spirit for these dangerous persons, these mockers, who cause a lot of sorrow, chaos, and divisions in the church.
Not only shall they cause a lot of harm in the church. But to the outside world, they shall put a blemish on the church and the Kingdom of God. They shall mock the faith, and damage the Name of Jesus Christ and the Father.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:17-18)
What do you do with a person, who causes divisions in the church?
God’s Word says, that you should admonish a person, who is a heretic and causes divisions in the church. If the person is not willing to listen after the second admonition, you should reject the person and remove the person from the congregation.
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:10-11)
Stay faithful to Jesus; the Word
As long as the church stays faithful to Jesus; the Word and walks after the Spirit in holiness and righteousness and bears the fruit of the Spirit, and leaves the spirits of the world, that operates in ungodly carnal people, outside the church, then divisions will be prevented in the church.
Therefore, watch and stay awake! Ensure that you will not be misled and deceived by false doctrines of those, who misuse the words of God for the fulfilling of the lusts and desires of the flesh (2 Peter 3). Because when you allow these false doctrines into your heart, you shall not be unshakable and unwavering anymore, but you shall depart from the faith, just like the preachers of these false doctrines.
That’s why, it is important to be born again and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and study and apply the Word of God in your life, so that you grow up into the full knowledge of Jesus Christ; the Word.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
