Fri 14 Apr 2006
Of Divisions and Divisiveness
Written by Phaedrus in Lothlórien[5] Comments, Complaints, and/or Criticisms
The Body of Christ teeters on the brink of dismemberment: we are fractured into so many different and differing segments that anything even remotely resembling unity is almost impossible to find and even more difficult to sustain.
We tell ourselves and one another that we are divided because of adherence to the truth: we have it and others do not; hence, fellowship and communion with those of different belief systems are difficult. Indeed, in some corners of Christendom those who do not hold to a particular dogma or theological schema are regarded as heretics and their salvation is doubted, if not outright denied.
But Jesus Christ, while embodying truth in His life, did not make truth the greatest good or the litmus test of true spirituality. He made it important, to be sure, but He regarded other qualities to be of greater import. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples,” Jesus declares in Jn 13.35, “if you have love for one another.” Not if you have the truth and teach it to one another, but if you have love for one another.
We seldom have trouble loving those who subscribe to the same set of beliefs as we; we are challenged, though, when we encounter Christians who not only hold to different doctrines but seem to be able to defend and support them biblically. We can argue with their hermeneutics, perhaps, but these less-than-truth-knowing believers are difficult to love. Doctrines and beliefs contrary to our own can be unsettling and unnerving; we do not like them and do not like those who espouse them.
But Jesus calls us to love them just the same. This is no easy calling: I want to evaluate others according to my standards of truth, first judging whether or not they are worthy of my love. You know, the “pearls before swine” test.
Even as Jesus emphasizes love, He further stakes His reputation and witness on our ability as believers to manifest unity. In His prayer recorded in Jn 17.20-23, Jesus makes the following request of the Father:
I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (emphases mine)
These are remarkable and troubling words. As the unbelieving world sees the unity of Body of Christ, they are enabled to know two things: (1) that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, and (2) that God loves Christians even as He loves Christ. It is remarkable because so much is dependent upon the unity of the Christian community; it is troubling because so much is dependent upon the unity of the Christian community.
We often mistake uniformity for unity, believing that we must all think, act, worship, and “be spiritual” in some arbitrarily determined fashion. Uniformity is not unity; unity necessitates differences that are accepted, welcomed, and embraced – via love – that in turn bind us together to function as a healthy reflection of the unity and love in the Godhead.
We claim it is truth that causes divisions, but perhaps we are deceived.
As the Fellowship of the Ring Рminus Gandalf, who has by now fallen in battle with a Balrog in Moria Рenters the wondrous Elven realm of Lothl̫rien, it is required that Gimli the dwarf be blindfolded so that he may not know the way to the haven deep within the forest. Animosity between the Elves and Dwarves has persisted for ages in Middle-earth and, in times of tension and lingering threats, the Elves do not trust Gimli even though he was chosen by Elrond Half-elven. Seeking to maintain the unity of the Fellowship, Aragorn wisely demands that all its members be blindfolded along with Gimli, even Legolas the Elven prince.
‘Alas for the folly of these days!’ said Legolas. ‘Here all are enemies of the one Enemy, and yet I must walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!’
“‘Folly it may seem,’ said Haldir. ‘Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him.’” (emphasis mine)
The fears and folly of the Free People of Middle-earth are replicated in the Church of God: we share a common Enemy and a common Lord, and yet we treat one another with such disdain, disgust, and distrust that – far from showing the world our love for Christ – we display to unbelievers the inability to love even our own brothers and sisters who disagree with us in doctrine, practice, or both.
As Haldir says, the lack of unity does not bring glory to God but rather demonstrates the insidious power of Satan. Our divisions and divisiveness reflect his power, not the power of God.
This is not to say that truth is unimportant; it is to say, however, that there are many truths that fail the test of uniformity but nevertheless can be allowed under the banner of unity in Christ. The eternal destiny of many and ultimate glory of God rest far more on the love and unity we have for one another than on the doctrinal shibboleths by which we isolate ourselves and tear apart the Body of Christ.
It is time for the church to be known not merely for her love of the truth, but for the truth of her love.
Namárië.
A noble post Mike, but sadly one that I don’t know if I can agree with in its entirety. I will submit though that we are commanded by Christ to love each other. I fully believe that when it comes to “working†together, that different denominations should display Christ like love towards each other.
But we are also commanded to be of “like mind†and we are also told to watch out for wrong doctrine. We also see even from the original churches that they were affected by sin and divisive and we continue to see this all throughout Church history.
I’m not particularly ecumenically minded. I do believe that all of the major Christian denominations demonstrate certain aspects of Biblical truth. But people are different and we have a tendency to focus on different aspects of the truth. So certain people tend to focus and highlight different truths. This leads certain people who are like minded in certain Biblical truths to congregate together.
Is what I’m saying Biblical or is it just pragmatic? I’m not sure. All I know is that, yes, I do believe that we should demonstrate a loving and serving heart towards each other but we are also led to want to naturally congregate and worship with like minded Christians.
So to wrap all this up, I’ll give a short personal testimony. I left the PCUSA because I came to a point in my faith where I was no longer like minded with their doctrine (or lack of), their worship and their practice. I found myself, after much searching in the PCA, because they were more like minded.
But, I work at Lifeway Christian Bookstore (A Southern Baptist run Christian bookstore) and so therefore all of my associates are Baptist, well all but one who is Pentecostal. Most of our customers are non-Reformed Christians or they do not hold to Reformed beliefs. (P.S. I have read your post “The State of Christiandumb†on Eternal Perspectives Mike where you quote: “Christian stupid-trinkets-shirts-music-and-everything-but-books store†and for the most part, yes I agree. But be it as it may, I do still see it as a ministry and I do enjoy helping the few customers that are sincerely seeking the truth.)
But this situation does not affect how I work and act with other denominational Christians. I go into work everyday thanking the Lord that He has sovereignly placed me in that place so that I can serve Him and further His kingdom there. I love my Baptist brethren even though I’m totally 100% non-dispensational and or non-Arminian. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter as far as my service in that store. I have become very good friends with a couple of my fellow Baptist associates and we meet all the time for fellowship and prayer. So I feel that because I haven’t let my personal doctrinal views get in the way of my relationships with my co-workers that I have been very blessed, encouraged and strengthened by their fellowship and witness and I’ll be the first one to admit (keeping in mind that I’m very Presbyterian and my blood runs blue) that there are a lot of good things that we can learn from the Baptist church.
So yes, I do fully affirm that we need to be loving towards each other, but I contend that maybe it isn’t so bad to have different denominations?
Y.B.I.C,
Dave.
Dave:
Various denominations are inevitable, I think, given the noetic effects of the Fall. But the lack of love and grace to which I refer is often between members of the same tribe! Some who consider themselves Reformed attack those to whom they pejoritively refer as Truly Reformed; dispensationalists squabble with one another; Baptist turns on Baptist. Only those who do not adhere to any doctrinal position seem free of such disagreement: such peace is not genuine but merely the “flight of the deserter,” as Tolkien said in a different context.
Iron sharpens iron and so we must engage and stimulate one another to a better understanding of the God of all true believers. But flesh does not sharpen iron, and it is often the case that the blood of our brethren is spilled by the sword of the Spirit.
Do not misunderstand me: my commitment to truth is unwavering and I am quite convinced of my own theology. But, whether in conversation with like-minded people or those of very different – but biblically tenable – positions, I am not excused from speaking the truth in love and demonstrating grace and mercy to others.
I am not opposed to divisions unless they are created solely due to divisive spirits; I am opposed to divisive people and will confront them at every opportunity, all the while looking to myself lest I become like them or fall into some other sin even as I seek to do good. God has little love for those who cause strife among brothers and we would do well to be certain that, should the need to divide arise, it be done in love, mercy, and grace.
Amen brother, very well spoken.
I agree fully and pray that anyone else reading this will be encouraged and edified.
May His peace and love be with us,
Dave.
Well said, Mike. I quoted your post liberally on my blog this morning. Peace.
Been there, done that – Christians destroying one another over points of doctrine, I mean.
Survivors of that sort of war tend to be the wariest; those eager for the fight probably haven’t had their souls trampled raw in the stampede for doctinal purity over minutiae.
There is plenty of obvious sin to fight in this world–but we seem more intent on devouring ourselves from the inside out than in presenting a common front to the Enemy.