Church division

[marimmacula]

Praise the Lord,
Just wanted to know what the Bible teaches about division in the Church.
Have u experienced one?
Thanks.

[NanaRenan]

Sadly, I have and it was an ugly thing.

Romans 16:17 says to mark those who cause division and avoid them.

[Deonna]

To quote Jesus' words "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Mt 12:25)

I like the scripture Sis Renan posted: Romans 16:17

Paul admonishes us to fight to keep unity: Ephesians 4:3

There's power in unity!

The day of Pentecost is an example. They were united in Spirit when the Holy Ghost fell and 3,000 more souls were added to their 120 (Acts 2). They wouldn't have reached those 3,000 if they'd been arguing and fighting and divided.
Another example is the tower of Babel. They were united but for the wrong reason. Look what God said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language...now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them." (Gen 11)


The devil knows what a people united can do to his kingdom. That's why he tries so hard to cause division in the church. Souls will not be added and there are always a few or more 'saved' souls that backslide over it = victory for him.

I too have been through one when I was a young teen. It wasn't a pretty sight and many were wounded and lost because of it. If you are in the midst of one, intercede and pray hard. I did, even though I was young. God spoke to me one night in a dream as I was asking Him 'why?' once again. I heard God crying and He said, "My Spirit cannot be where I am not invited. I cannot abide where I am not welcomed." I woke up in tears.

[Bro Mike]

I was the Pastor of a Church that had experienced division. There had been conflict in the community for thirty years that involved the local school district and superintendent. Eventually, the conflict found its way into the Church. The prior three Pastors did absolutley NOTHING with regard to settling the conflict on the onset.

Prior to the Church calling me to be their Pastor, the Holy Ghost told me there was problems in the Church and I was going there because of them. Needless to say, I knew I was going there before they asked me to be there but I just didn't know the extent of all the problems. When I spoke with the Pastoral Committee, I asked them point blank: What has gone on in this Church and what do you expect me to do about it? They replied (NOTHING) . One of the ladies finally spoke up and told me everything. At first, things were fine in the CHurch but one month after I had started to serve as Pastor, I had to deal with three of the families that were causing soooooooo much division in the CHurch. The leadership that existed during the interim while the Church was without a Pastor made efforts to follow Matt 18 as closely as they knew how to. When I arrived, the next step was to admonish them all publicly before the Church.

After just a few months and after prayer, fasting, seeking Godly counsel and pleading with each of the families, I had to admonish them publicly before the entire Church and warn them that the next time any of them bring any type of discord in the Church that we would be forced to withdraw fellowship from them and treat them like a heathen until they bore "fruit in keeping with repentance." Two of the three families listened and stopped. Sadly, the third family stated plainly: "This is my Church and I don't care what anybody says, I'm going to do what I want!" They did and so we immediately (within three days excluded them from fellowship. It caused so much disturbance in the town that I had a man bring a loaded twelve gauge shotgun to my house and tell me that I really needed to keep it close by. My wife and I were assaulted in the Community and my children were ostracized and called evil in the school they attended (all because we refused to tolerate division in the house of God). However, I don't see how a person can Pastor a Church and not be responsible for protecting the people from all types of abuse whether intentional or un-intentional. I felt the responsibility to take and make the tough decision and lead the Church to act upon the Word of God!

This was an extremely painful event. My daughter lost nights of sleep thinking someone was going to kill us, on more than one occassion, we had to take her to the Emergency room because of severe abdominal pain.

Well, the interesting thing that I discovered through it all is: GOD IS FAITHFUL! I would not wish what we went through on our worst enemy but I wouldn't trade the sweet hours of prayer I had with my Father either! It dawned on me that in the middle of the night when I would be up praying and wondering where God was at and why the people I love so much hated me he said to me: "You cannot expect to be treated any better than Jesus was when He walked the earth and this trial isn't about you and these people it is about ME refining you into the image of My Son! Rom 8:28-30 took on special significance. Sometimes we are going to face tough times, adversity, affliction etc... God uses tough times and adversity in our lives to refine us into the image of Jesus. God prepares us for what He has prepared us for! He is in the character developing business and He knew just what needed to be burned out of my heart to prepare me for something He had that was infinitely better! Prov 18:6 states that a man's gift will make room for him and bring him before the great! This is true but character will be the only thing that keeps you there!

I pray nobody ever has to deal with division in the Church. Normally it is only a handful of stubborn, rebels that are responsible for it and unfortunately, sometimes the good folks just sit there and take it--leaving it for the Pastor to deal with and clean up! Anyhow, sorry I am sooooooo long winded on this! I saw the post and hopefully this will help someone facing the same thing!

Bro Mike:icon_danc

[Deonna]

... God uses tough times and adversity in our lives to refine us into the image of Jesus. God prepares us for what He has prepared us for! He is in the character developing business and He knew just what needed to be burned out of my heart to prepare me for something He had that was infinitely better! ...

Amen! We need to turn our trials into a blessing and let God be glorified even in the midst of adversity.

[marimmacula]

Amen to what the brother wrote.
After going through the same situation I came to the same conclusion.
To God be the glory.