While some professing Christians clamor for unity at any cost, we tend to forget that division is also inevitable, and every single one of us makes clear distinctions all the time whether or not we realize it. We distinguish between petty or hardened criminals from law-abiding citizens; we distinguish between robbers from those who self-sacrificially give to the poor; and we ceratinly distinguish between those who murder, or rape, or harm children from those who love, and respect, and protect the innocent. Not all divisions are bad, negative, or thought to be wrong. We can even be divided as Christians as to what we believe about Scripture, about worship, and about opposing values we hold dear. Upon essentials of the Faith we should all be united and of one mind (Phil. 2:2, 3, 4; 1 Pet. 3:8). But upon secondary and tertiary issues we can be humbly divided--and it's okay to be divided. Luther rightly encouraged us to not betray our conscience even if in doing so we are divided.
The apostle Paul asks: "for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial [which is ("transliterated from the OT [as being] 'worthless, vile, wickedness')--a [title] of Satan which stresses his deep-seated wickedness--'the one who is utterly worthless because [he is inherently] vile'"]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?" (2 Cor. 6:14-16 CSB). Here, believers are called to separate themselves from the unbelievers of the world, meaning that their relationship with "the world of unbelievers" needs to be in some sense limited, with restrictions or proper boundaries, so that the believer does not adopt the practical-atheistic worldview or the immoral and unethical behavior of unbelievers. Pray for their salvation, yes, and love them truly from the heart. Help them whenever they need help: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the poor. But godly fellowship belongs between regenerate believers. Why? Because this practical and spiritual truth exists: holy conduct does not effect holiness in the non-believer but ungodliness can ilicit ungodliness in the believer (1 Cor. 15:33).
But there are also times when believers need to separate themselves from other professing believers--people claiming to be Christians--even to the point of causing a division in the "unity" of a congregation. We cannot be united at the cost of biblical truth. The apostle Paul warned us two thousand years ago that "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" (2 Thess. 2:7). How much more so now? The activity of Satan can even come with "power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved" (2 Thess. 2:9-10 NASB). If we sacrifice biblical truth upon the altar of unity then we only deceive ourselves.
UNITY WITH A CAVEAT
Jesus, in prayer to His Father, prayed for the unity of genuine born-again believers (John 17:20, 21, 22, 23). But there are times when disunity, overt division, is an inevitability: "But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you [plural--you all]; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you so that those who are approved may become evident among you" (1 Cor. 11:17-19 NASB); cf. "But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God's approval will be recognized [manifest, shining, apparent]!" (1 Cor. 11:19 NLT). We must remember that, in every church, there are true believers and false believers (Matt. 13:30 NLT; cf. Matt. 13:24-30).
A false believer is someone who attends church regularly, is nearly unrecognizable from any other believer, but who has never been inwardly changed (2 Cor. 5:17) by the power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 2:11, 12, 13, 14; 3:3, 4, 5, 6, 7), the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16, 17), and the Word of God (2 Thess. 2:13; James 1:18). Such a person most likely even believes him- or herself to be a true Christian, but experiences no sting of conscience (1 Tim. 4:2) or sorrow for sin (2 Cor. 7:10), thus producing no fruit of repentance (Matt. 3:8; Luke 3:8; Rom. 1:5; 16:26). The reality of false believers in every church is evident from the frightening words of Jesus (Matt. 7:21, 22, 23; 13:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30).
UNITY PURSUED
I have witnessed believers who take the Word of God regarding necessary divisions and separation too far in an effort to maintain a "pure" church with one hundred percent regenerate membership. But I do not think Jesus teaches that such is even remotely possible. Why? Because Jesus' enemy, Satan, influences certain unbelievers to attend and to join local congregations (Matt. 13:26-28 NIV). So, one might think, should we not banish trouble-makers, people perceived to be unbelievers and such, from our churches (Matt. 13:28)? Jesus' answer is No, "because while you are pulling the weeds [false believers], you may uproot the wheat [true believers] with them. Let both grow together until the Harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into My barn" (Matt. 13:29-30 NIV). Still, as genuine believers in Christ and true worshipers of God (John 4:23, 24), we are called to unity.
The writer to the Hebrews instructs us: "Pursue peace with all ... and the sanctification [holiness / consecration / set-apartness, cf. 2 Pet. 1:3, 4] without which no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14 NASB). The word for "pursue" is a present active imperative, so that it is a command, and it is also a command that we are to be proactively involved in throughout our entire lives in Christ: pursue (imperative / command) and keep pursuing (present active / continuous action) peace. You may ask: How can we pursue peace in the church when there are false believers in our midst? When we ask such a question, we assume that we know perfectly the heart and mind of every person, when we do not possess that knowledge which belongs to God alone (1 Cor. 2:11). However, there is a biblical way to perceive the state of the heart of a person:
UNITY IN TRUTH
We know, with a spiritual knowledge, our true brothers and sisters in Christ (Rom. 8:9, 16, 17 NIV). These are those in whom the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of regeneration, salvation, reconciliation, justification, and sanctification: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23 NASB). With such we are commanded to be constantly pursuing peace (Heb. 12:14; cf. Rom. 12:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16). But our pursuit of peace is to extend to all people regardless of faith: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Rom. 12:18 NIV; cf. Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37). When we are persecuted for trusting in Jesus we are commanded to bless those who mistreat us (Rom. 12:14), to never repay anyone with evil (Rom. 12:17), and to be careful to do what is right in front of everyone (Rom. 12:18). We are ultimately commanded to not be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). So our peace, not only with other believers but also with all other people, originates in our redemption, salvation, and discipleship in Christ.
When we, as believers in Christ and followers of His Gospel, behave as we should toward each other, and also toward the world, we bring honor and glory to God (Matt. 5:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16). By the grace of God, through faith in Christ, we are brought into a unity with the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24; 15:8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 26, 27; 16:7, 13). This unity gives birth to another unity--unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Eph. 1:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22; 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; 1 John 5:1). Since God is the God of Truth (Num. 23:19; Deut. 32:4 KJV, Ps. 43:3; cf. John 1:14; 8:32; 14:6; 16:13; 17:17; Heb. 6:18; 1 John 4:6), meaning that He gives context, definition, and weight to Truth, remembering also that the Bible is the Word of Truth (Ps. 119:160; John 17:17; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18), then our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and our unity with the Godhead of Truth indicates that our unity as believers is also a unity in Truth.
This Truth regards the reality of our Faith and our Salvation. We are, by God's grace through faith in Christ, adopted children of Truth. We worship the God of Truth (John 4:23, 24), in Christ, the Word of Truth (John 1:1, 14; 17:17; Rev. 19:11, 13), by the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 5:6), and we are called to walk in the Truth (John 4:24; 8:32; 14:6; Eph. 4:15; Phil. 4:8; 1 John 1:6; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:4). Since, as we have seen, the Word of God is the Word of Truth then we must consider the Word of Truth as the Final and Absolute Rule of Faith for all that is True. If there are professing believers who reject the Word of Truth, reinterpreting God's Words to conform to their own political, social, or theological agenda then we must correct those in error (2 Tim. 2:15) and, if those in error refuse to be corrected (Matt. 18:15, 16, 17, 18), separate yourself from them (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:1-13). The goal, the hope and prayer, though, is that God will grant such repentance, salvation, and reconciliation (2 Thess. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:25; James 5:19, 20): have mercy on some, snatch others from the ever-gaping mouth of Hell (Isa. 5:14), and with others have mercy "with great caution," "hating the sins that contaminate their lives" (Jude 1:22-23 NLT).
This also indicates that if we are in an entire fellowship or denomination that refuses to regard the Word of Truth as inspired directly from God (2 Tim. 3:14-17 ESV) then we are to pray earnestly for such. "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Gal. 4:16 ESV). Without doubt some will perceive such statements as fanatic, fundamentalistic, unkind and divisive. Odd, though, how those who reject the Word of God would deem us who love and trust the Word of God as schismatics. But this is what happens when people are radicalized by unbelieving scholars and heretics. If your denomination or your pastor or your local church body believes, affirms, and celebrates
Do not allow others to shame you into an inclusive environment by pegging you as someone who causes divisions, informing you that division is not of Christ, since we are taught explicitly from Scripture to separate from such people (2 Cor. 6:17). Remind yourself often that even Jesus Himself warns His own people to stop tolerating false doctrines (Rev. 2:14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; cf. Rev. 3:3, 4, 5, 6)! "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent" (Rev. 3:19 NIV). Even if you have to pray and pray, and then pray some more, even for years and years, and then more years still, be faithful and do not give up. Never give up. Remember that, oftentimes, Grace is slow.
The apostle Paul asks: "for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial [which is ("transliterated from the OT [as being] 'worthless, vile, wickedness')--a [title] of Satan which stresses his deep-seated wickedness--'the one who is utterly worthless because [he is inherently] vile'"]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?" (2 Cor. 6:14-16 CSB). Here, believers are called to separate themselves from the unbelievers of the world, meaning that their relationship with "the world of unbelievers" needs to be in some sense limited, with restrictions or proper boundaries, so that the believer does not adopt the practical-atheistic worldview or the immoral and unethical behavior of unbelievers. Pray for their salvation, yes, and love them truly from the heart. Help them whenever they need help: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the poor. But godly fellowship belongs between regenerate believers. Why? Because this practical and spiritual truth exists: holy conduct does not effect holiness in the non-believer but ungodliness can ilicit ungodliness in the believer (1 Cor. 15:33).
But there are also times when believers need to separate themselves from other professing believers--people claiming to be Christians--even to the point of causing a division in the "unity" of a congregation. We cannot be united at the cost of biblical truth. The apostle Paul warned us two thousand years ago that "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" (2 Thess. 2:7). How much more so now? The activity of Satan can even come with "power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved" (2 Thess. 2:9-10 NASB). If we sacrifice biblical truth upon the altar of unity then we only deceive ourselves.
UNITY WITH A CAVEAT
Jesus, in prayer to His Father, prayed for the unity of genuine born-again believers (John 17:20, 21, 22, 23). But there are times when disunity, overt division, is an inevitability: "But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you [plural--you all]; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you so that those who are approved may become evident among you" (1 Cor. 11:17-19 NASB); cf. "But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God's approval will be recognized [manifest, shining, apparent]!" (1 Cor. 11:19 NLT). We must remember that, in every church, there are true believers and false believers (Matt. 13:30 NLT; cf. Matt. 13:24-30).
A false believer is someone who attends church regularly, is nearly unrecognizable from any other believer, but who has never been inwardly changed (2 Cor. 5:17) by the power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 2:11, 12, 13, 14; 3:3, 4, 5, 6, 7), the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16, 17), and the Word of God (2 Thess. 2:13; James 1:18). Such a person most likely even believes him- or herself to be a true Christian, but experiences no sting of conscience (1 Tim. 4:2) or sorrow for sin (2 Cor. 7:10), thus producing no fruit of repentance (Matt. 3:8; Luke 3:8; Rom. 1:5; 16:26). The reality of false believers in every church is evident from the frightening words of Jesus (Matt. 7:21, 22, 23; 13:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30).
UNITY PURSUED
I have witnessed believers who take the Word of God regarding necessary divisions and separation too far in an effort to maintain a "pure" church with one hundred percent regenerate membership. But I do not think Jesus teaches that such is even remotely possible. Why? Because Jesus' enemy, Satan, influences certain unbelievers to attend and to join local congregations (Matt. 13:26-28 NIV). So, one might think, should we not banish trouble-makers, people perceived to be unbelievers and such, from our churches (Matt. 13:28)? Jesus' answer is No, "because while you are pulling the weeds [false believers], you may uproot the wheat [true believers] with them. Let both grow together until the Harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into My barn" (Matt. 13:29-30 NIV). Still, as genuine believers in Christ and true worshipers of God (John 4:23, 24), we are called to unity.
The writer to the Hebrews instructs us: "Pursue peace with all ... and the sanctification [holiness / consecration / set-apartness, cf. 2 Pet. 1:3, 4] without which no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14 NASB). The word for "pursue" is a present active imperative, so that it is a command, and it is also a command that we are to be proactively involved in throughout our entire lives in Christ: pursue (imperative / command) and keep pursuing (present active / continuous action) peace. You may ask: How can we pursue peace in the church when there are false believers in our midst? When we ask such a question, we assume that we know perfectly the heart and mind of every person, when we do not possess that knowledge which belongs to God alone (1 Cor. 2:11). However, there is a biblical way to perceive the state of the heart of a person:
Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You [the unbelieving Jewish Leaders who hate Jesus] offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned (Matt. 12:33-37 NASB 2020).The words we speak unavoidably reveal the condition of our hearts. If someone professes to be a believer in Christ, His loyal subject, but constantly and intentionally behaves wickedly or immorally or unethically, meaning that such is the constant pattern of the person's life and he displays no remorse for behaving in such a manner, then such a person is not saved, is not a true believer, and is not our sibling in Christ (1 John 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; 2:3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 29; 3:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 24; 4:5, 20, 21; 5:1, 2, 3). Paul writes: "The acts of the flesh [the old fallen nature of a person] are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft [Greek, pharmakeía, also refers to drug-use--often sorcery involved drug-use and, therefore, we see that drug-use is demonic by nature]; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [deliberately causing division without biblical warrant] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who [consistently and happily] live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21 NIV).
UNITY IN TRUTH
We know, with a spiritual knowledge, our true brothers and sisters in Christ (Rom. 8:9, 16, 17 NIV). These are those in whom the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of regeneration, salvation, reconciliation, justification, and sanctification: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23 NASB). With such we are commanded to be constantly pursuing peace (Heb. 12:14; cf. Rom. 12:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16). But our pursuit of peace is to extend to all people regardless of faith: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Rom. 12:18 NIV; cf. Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37). When we are persecuted for trusting in Jesus we are commanded to bless those who mistreat us (Rom. 12:14), to never repay anyone with evil (Rom. 12:17), and to be careful to do what is right in front of everyone (Rom. 12:18). We are ultimately commanded to not be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). So our peace, not only with other believers but also with all other people, originates in our redemption, salvation, and discipleship in Christ.
When we, as believers in Christ and followers of His Gospel, behave as we should toward each other, and also toward the world, we bring honor and glory to God (Matt. 5:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16). By the grace of God, through faith in Christ, we are brought into a unity with the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24; 15:8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 26, 27; 16:7, 13). This unity gives birth to another unity--unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Eph. 1:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22; 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; 1 John 5:1). Since God is the God of Truth (Num. 23:19; Deut. 32:4 KJV, Ps. 43:3; cf. John 1:14; 8:32; 14:6; 16:13; 17:17; Heb. 6:18; 1 John 4:6), meaning that He gives context, definition, and weight to Truth, remembering also that the Bible is the Word of Truth (Ps. 119:160; John 17:17; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18), then our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and our unity with the Godhead of Truth indicates that our unity as believers is also a unity in Truth.
This Truth regards the reality of our Faith and our Salvation. We are, by God's grace through faith in Christ, adopted children of Truth. We worship the God of Truth (John 4:23, 24), in Christ, the Word of Truth (John 1:1, 14; 17:17; Rev. 19:11, 13), by the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 5:6), and we are called to walk in the Truth (John 4:24; 8:32; 14:6; Eph. 4:15; Phil. 4:8; 1 John 1:6; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:4). Since, as we have seen, the Word of God is the Word of Truth then we must consider the Word of Truth as the Final and Absolute Rule of Faith for all that is True. If there are professing believers who reject the Word of Truth, reinterpreting God's Words to conform to their own political, social, or theological agenda then we must correct those in error (2 Tim. 2:15) and, if those in error refuse to be corrected (Matt. 18:15, 16, 17, 18), separate yourself from them (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:1-13). The goal, the hope and prayer, though, is that God will grant such repentance, salvation, and reconciliation (2 Thess. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:25; James 5:19, 20): have mercy on some, snatch others from the ever-gaping mouth of Hell (Isa. 5:14), and with others have mercy "with great caution," "hating the sins that contaminate their lives" (Jude 1:22-23 NLT).
This also indicates that if we are in an entire fellowship or denomination that refuses to regard the Word of Truth as inspired directly from God (2 Tim. 3:14-17 ESV) then we are to pray earnestly for such. "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Gal. 4:16 ESV). Without doubt some will perceive such statements as fanatic, fundamentalistic, unkind and divisive. Odd, though, how those who reject the Word of God would deem us who love and trust the Word of God as schismatics. But this is what happens when people are radicalized by unbelieving scholars and heretics. If your denomination or your pastor or your local church body believes, affirms, and celebrates
- gay marriage (contra Gen. 2:21, 22, 23, 24), or the insanity of multiple genders (contra Gen. 2:20, 21, 22, 23), or affirms the cognitive distortions and mental-health disorder of transgenderism as ordered and blessed by God (contra Gen. 1:26, 27, 28);
- or if they refuse to believe that Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (contra John 14:6; Acts 4:12), or they even suggest that Jesus "did not really say such things," which they cannot even remotely claim to know;
- or if they refuse to believe that God saves people only by His mercy and grace through faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:11, 12, 13; 3:3-8, 15-19; John 3:36 NKJV; Rom. 1:16, 17; 2:4, 5; 3:19-31; 4:1-25; 5:1-21; 6:1-14; Eph. 2:5, 8, 9; Titus 2:11; 3:4, 5, 6, 7)--and that for His glory (Eph. 1:4, 5, 6);
- but, rather, they believe that people are saved by being a good and decent human being (contradicting Rom. 3:21-26 ESV; 4:22-25 NLT), or by works (contra Rom. 4:3-5 NLT; Rom. 4:14-16 NLT; Gal. 2:16), or that God is just going to automatically save every single person who has ever and who will ever live because of His goodness or "niceness" or justice (contra John 3:36 NKJV; Jude 1:5-19; Rev. 6:15-17; 21:8, 27; 22:3, 15);
Do not allow others to shame you into an inclusive environment by pegging you as someone who causes divisions, informing you that division is not of Christ, since we are taught explicitly from Scripture to separate from such people (2 Cor. 6:17). Remind yourself often that even Jesus Himself warns His own people to stop tolerating false doctrines (Rev. 2:14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; cf. Rev. 3:3, 4, 5, 6)! "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent" (Rev. 3:19 NIV). Even if you have to pray and pray, and then pray some more, even for years and years, and then more years still, be faithful and do not give up. Never give up. Remember that, oftentimes, Grace is slow.
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