Diversity and Division

There are so many different churches around today that sometimes it is difficult to know where the best place to be is. Whilst it is important to find a church with a style of worship that suits ourselves, we also need to make sure that the church is holding to the whole Word of God and not just a part of it. Also we need to ensure that nothing is added to the Word over and above what God intended. Clearly, there is diversity amongst the different churches, but where does this diversity end and division begin?

Eph 4; 1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Here Paul is telling us how to walk the christian path we have been called to and stresses the need to work towards the unity of the Spirit. Clearly there is only one way to walk that walk, but just as different parts of our own body performs different functions, so different parts of the body of Christ are called to perform different functions too.

Rom 12; 3-6 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

Clearly then, diversity of function is a biblical principle to be encouraged and recognized for its stengths. However, we are also charged not to think too highly of ourselves and to think soberly. If we see our calling more highly or 'right' than another's then pretty soon we see the other's function as flawed or wrong. This has manifested itself in the number of 'denominations' there are today; both within the body of Christ and without. What we need to ensure is that the church we attend is indeed a part of the body of Christ. Denominations are man-made divisions that have arisen despite Paul's warning

1 Cor 1; 10-13 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. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul,'' or "I am of Apollos,'' or "I am of Cephas,'' or "I am of Christ.'' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

This is not to say that all denominations are right in their own way. Indeed there are a number of denominations which clearly fall outside the body of Christ. And if they are not in Christ, then quite simply, they are Anti-Christ despite their appearance, and we need to be wary of these groups. Paul preached the gospel of Christ, and he pronounced damnation upon anyone, including himself who would change what Jesus had taught and preached.

Gal 1; 6-12 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

So the first thing we need to make sure is that our church recognizes that it is through Jesus Christ, and Him alone, that we are reconciled with God and our sins forgiven. There is no other way nor any other route to God except through Jesus Christ. He is the one that died for us at Calvery and paid the price for our transgressions. He is the one that rose again and ascended into heaven to prepare our place. He is the one who will stand in judgement of our souls and He is the only one we must trust!

John 14; 1-7 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.'' Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'' Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.''

Clearly then, it is very important that we ensure that we are in fact, part of the body of Christ and not of some pseudo Christ-like group...after all, Satan would like nothing better then to deceive us in this way for the rest of our lives! How then can we do this? Well, one way is to see if our church reflects what the bible tells us about being born again and of baptism.

John 3; 1-5 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.'' Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'' Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?'' Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Being born again is our entry into the body of Christ. Once we have given our lives to Christ we need to be baptized in water and in the Spirit. Note here that Jesus specifically says just this. Baptism in one and not the other is not sufficient. We must be baptized in both to become members of the body of Christ. Anyone who teaches anything else is going directly against the Word of Jesus, and in Paul's words, will be accursed!

2 Tim 3; 16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Rev 22; 18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

OK, so the second scripture refers principally to the book of Revelation. But given Paul's warning about preaching anything other than what Christ preached, then this warning can quite easily be generalized to the whole bible. The message is simple really...the bible, all the bible and nothing but the bible is our blueprint for our christian walk. Not man, not our group and not our denomination. We are either of the body of Christ in accordance with the scriptures or we aren't, and we need to keep a constant vigil on the spirits that surround us daily.

1 John 4; 1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.