Articles
Reasons for Division
When the apostle Paul wrote to the brethren at Corinth to address their numerous problems, he began with a plea: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). In these words, we may infer that they had not done this, and this failure led to the divisive attitudes and actual division amongst brethren who should have been otherwise united in their faith in Jesus Christ.
If we are interested in seeking and maintaining the unity for which Christ earnestly prayed (cf. John 17:20-23), then we should pay attention to Paul’s plea to the Corinthian brethren, for it is the blueprint for unity, whereas failure to do these things will inevitably lead to division, among other problems. Let us consider Paul’s divinely-inspired words and why these things are necessary to achieve and maintain unity among professing believers.
The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul began by saying, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” indicating the foundational factor in religious unity: Doing what we do by the authority of Jesus Christ. Paul made his plea by the name of Jesus because, as an apostle [one specifically and personally chosen by Jesus to go into the world and preach the will of the Father], he had that delegated authority and was inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak and write.
The church at Corinth was not making any appeals to the name and authority of Jesus to do what they were doing, else they would have not had the division that then existed! Sadly, men have ignored this basic precept and have divided over and over and over through the years since, to the point we have now over 41,000 supposed “Christian” denominations. So much for unity.
Paul makes this point of doing everything by Christ’s authority when he wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). To do something “in the name of” another simply means we do it by their authority. (See 1 Sam. 25:9 as an example.) Since Jesus has been given “All authority…in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18), then this leaves no room for any man. Even Paul and the rest of the apostles could only speak the things He authorized; they did not have the authority to make new laws or give new commands that Christ or the Holy Spirit did not direct them to give. Paul, in fact, noted, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). The things he had written were not “the commandments of Paul,” but “the commandments of the Lord,” and, thus, authoritative.
But man has failed to recognize and acknowledge that authority and has often sought to assert himself or some lineage of men as the authority over all things to the church. They have given commandments that do not come from Christ, created new doctrines that are not of God, and teach, believe, and practice many things without the authority of Jesus Christ, and the result is the obvious and persistent division among professing believers that now exists, and will continue to exist until we all decide to go back to the one source of authority for all we say and do: Jesus Christ. I — and every human being who has lived since the time of Christ ascension — will not be judged by the words of any human-created creed book or religious leader, but by the words of Jesus Christ (John 12:47-50).
Speaking the Same Thing. It would naturally and inevitably follow that if we are united in recognizing Christ alone as the authority for all we believe, teach, and do, then we will all “speak the same thing.” People who all recognize Christ as the authority for all they believe, teach, and do will not be speaking different and/or contradictory things that only confuses the one seeking truth. I can guarantee you that there is very little in common with what is being taught in differing denominations across this country and around the world, demonstrating the fact they are not united in recognizing Jesus Christ as the sole authority for all they believe, teach, and do. One group says we are saved by faith alone and another says it is not by faith alone; one group says we should listen to the pope and another says we should listen to Joseph Smith, Jr.; one group says we should assemble for worship on Sundays and another says it should be Saturdays. Friends and brethren, they are not all speaking the same thing, and division is to be expected! Paul, on the other hand, could honestly say “Timothy…will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17). There was no difference because he spoke the same thing in every church! That is not the case today.
The Same Mind. The Greek word translated here as “mind” speaks of one’s understanding, but it is more than this; the term, as used in the context of Paul’s letter, would necessarily mean a spiritual mind. He would later chastise them for having a carnal [fleshly] mind (1 Cor. 3:1-4), and that mind was the root cause of much of the division Paul addresses in this letter. It would also necessarily mean they have the mind of Christ, whom they claimed to serve. Paul would later exhort the brethren of Philippi to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” and that was in the context of addressing the need for humility (Phil. 2:1-8). It should go without saying that a fleshly mindset, combined with a lack of humility, is a disaster waiting to happen. When we think like the world and act like the world, problems will soon follow, and will not be eliminated until we have a change of mind.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the mindset that seems to reign in many religious circles today, and not just among the denominations. Brethren also get caught up in this worldly way of thinking, and when one who is involved is also arrogant and self-seeking, conflict and division will most certainly follow.
The Same Judgment. The Greek word translated here as judgment refers also to the mind, but more along the lines of acting on what ought to be done. It is taking the knowledge we have and making a wise decision about what should be done. Again, to illustrate the need for this among all believers, imagine the chaos and gridlock that would reign should there be a lack of unanimity about what to do, as a local church! It was obvious this was lacking in Corinth, for they were divided over just about everything they did as a church. It is one thing to have the proper knowledge and understanding; it is another to properly apply it in a way that follows the will of the Lord and unites all believers. This is something every believer must commit to if there is to ever be unity, and if unity is to be maintained.
Every believer should be asking, regarding any matter, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10), or, “what does the Scripture say?” (Gal. 4:30), and then choose to do the very things the Lord commands. It is vital that our unity must be a union of believers who are following God’s will — not ‘unity at all costs.’
Without these things, we will never have true unity in Christ. — Steven Harper
