Does Anyone Have An Answer For Division? - Pt. 1

“Has Christ been divided?” (1 Cor. 1:13 NASB)

I believe the above question posed by Paul to the Corinthians should also be haunting the modern church right now. At least Corinth only had four factions. Christianity today has been scattered to the four winds! True Spirit-birthed unity in practice is an endangered species.

A History of Disunity

Time and space will not allow me to provide a thorough church history lesson here. I think it is safe to assume that if you are reading this article then you are already aware of the degradation that has plagued Christianity for the better part of the last 1800 years. Outside of a few suppressed remnants through the centuries, The Way has been buried under a mountain of ignorance, paganism, carnality, and fallen human nature. Mishandled in just about every way possible, the true nature of Christ and The Church has been reduced to a religion and a philosophy - to a mental exercise and a search for signs and wonders. Having become “a byword among the nations” due to layer upon layer of misrepresentation, The Church is grossly out of touch with its true identity and has abused a trusting public. It is being shamed by God’s enemy and not fulfilling its place of shaming God’s enemy. Like the nation of Israel after Solomon, Jeroboam, and Rehoboam, the Kingdom of God has been severed and scattered. And yet, the indestructible life of The New Creation bursts out of its shackles in every generation, determined to make Christ as All in All a visible reality in expression.

Like or not, believe it or not, we have inherited a Christianity that is about as divided and sectarian as it can get. We have our Catholics and Protestants. We have our denominations and our denominations splitting. We have the non-denominational denomination. We have our para-church organizations. We have our various ministries, camps, and circles. We have countless anemic cell groups and house churches. Most all are missing the mark when it comes to representing the true nature of the Lord Jesus Christ! Most are products of human invention and not fruit by the Spirit of God!

Most denominations and groups throughout church history have gotten their beginning and ultimately their identity as a sect (that’s what they are) by splitting with some other group over some particular pet doctrine or emphasis and then making that same emphasis their center and identity. This vicious cycle is indisputable! They camp out at a particular truth or aspect of the Lord, become topical in teaching, and make idols out of emphasis in their worship. This comes as a result of a few things I believe: since the passing on of the first-century apostles and those they trained, our quality of Christian workers has been poor. Outside of a few scattered souls, “ministers” of our faith have not been trained organically, have not had a revelation of God’s eternal purpose, do not become stewards of the mystery, and do not train up faithful ones to carry on after themselves. Because the workers have been misled, they have misled others and perpetuated retarded churches and movements. Another thing is that God’s people have not understood the oneness of the Godhead fellowship and in turn have not understood the Lord’s oneness with The Church His bride - that The Church is Christ – in bodily form. By not properly discerning the Body and recognizing that it is as vast, full of variety, and all-encompassing as Christ Himself is, we have failed to receive the gifts, functions, and ministry of The Body to edify itself and express a unity of the faith. When testing has come to “try” our unity we have failed in our immaturity. We have chosen tools of the flesh and not walked in the Spirit - thinking we were doing God a favor.

The thing that frustrates me and those I practice church with, is that the majority of Christians (so called leaders included) don’t seem to discern that our lack of unity is a monumental problem. They don’t appear to care. They think it is normal. They believe unity is impossible (contrary to what The Word says) so they apply no effort. And outside of a few unity parades and arm-chair conversations, no one seems to be attempting any practical solutions that will bring revolutionary change and healing on a local level. Yet, there is a fool’s hope that there will be groups of believers rising up who will abandon all and pay any price to see their Lord’s dream of unity actualized. The Spirit of the Lord is determined and provision has already been made in the heavenlies. He is awaiting a move of the people of God. As long as there is grace and the promise of finding what we seek, I believe there is a solution. It is an ancient and narrow way. It is a road less traveled. It is traversed by the poor in spirit, by desperate and hungry sojourners who are searching for the city whose architect and builder is God. I would like to present the solution here. But discovering and knowing the solution is not the highest hurdle. The issue, you will find, is will there be willingness? Will a people be willing to deny self? To go to the cross? To abandon old wineskins for a radically new approach? To start over in their Christian experience? To behold the Scriptures and their Lord in a whole new light? To bear the reproach of being outside of popular culture? It will take faith and courage beyond their capacity and the odds are overwhelmingly against them. How badly do they want more of their Lord? He does not give away His secret treasures to the passive. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22 NASB).” If you can be counted among the willing then by all means, please read on.

The Indivisible Nature of God and The Church

Let’s take a moment to revisit the nature of the Godhead and consequently of The Church. God is one. Before creation of the invisible and visible realms, only God existed. Though we have the mystery of God in three persons, they exist in a state of perfect harmony and unity. Though they each seem to have different expressions and functions, they are virtually indistinguishable. They prefer one another. They speak and act as one. They are one Spirit. They are unity personified. Likewise The Church, who has been installed with the same Spirit as God, also has the same nature. By nature she is one with God. Her members are one. Her nature is to be a unified organism. According to Paul in his letter that is called Ephesians, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” If she appears to be divided then she is betraying her true nature. This is how we can tell a genuine expression of The Body of Christ from a false one or one that is missing the mark. If we are truly touching Christ in our worship lifestyle and community, then we will be touching His nature of unity - becoming compatible with it. Because of the indwelling Spirit of God in The Church, she is by nature indivisible. Therefore, any division is a product of God’s enemy and the fallen nature of man. Our unity in The Body of Christ is no human product. Watchman Nee writes, “We cannot make this unity, since by the Spirit we are one in Christ, and we cannot break it, because it is an eternal fact in Christ; but we can destroy the effects of it, so that its expression in the church is lost.”

As far as the visible outworking of The Church’s earthly expression goes, we must be willing to be reduced to a simpler view. In a day and time when choices, options, and distractions are so readily available to the individual, believers of Jesus Christ must endeavor to protect the nature of The Church. I’m not talking about a rigid adherence to a NT pattern but a continuous checking-in with our organic instincts, which are one with the Lord. I believe that if we are in touch with our Christian instincts then we will come to see that the only Scriptural and Spirit-led right we have to divide The Church (universal) is for practical and geographic reasons. Because it is not possible for The Church universal to gather and live in one place, The Church is divided into churches on a local level. All of those who belong to the Lord and who call on His name gather together where they live. They are simply The Church in the given place that they reside. Be it a city, township, burgh, or district, they are The Church in the name of that place. In whatever way society marks out its limits, the church has its boundary. If it is a large metro area, it can be distinguished by what is common – such as the south side of Chicago, the north side of Atlanta, or the east side of Los Angeles. This is not a division of nature but of practicality and locality. It does not weaken the Lord’s testimony. This was the way in the first-century. They were simply the church at Corinth, or the church of Smyrna, or the churches of Galatia (a province). They did not take on trendy, stand-out names like what is common today. They were just known as The Church in their particular city.

It is important to now also mention the main areas where division takes place among God’s people in their weakness and immaturity. The NT tells that the church need not be ignorant of the devil’s devices. We also need not be ignorant of our frailty as fallen humans and where we tend to break down in our attempt to cooperate with the Lord. If we are alert and aware of the “foxes that spoil the vine” then we can better resist and overcome as we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (1) Hero Worship. Sometimes it is human nature to glamorize a certain spiritual leader or an instrument of our salvation because we received a particular benefit. This comes from not properly discerning man and understanding that it is the grace of Christ that is being shared through a “vessel” and not human charisma. This was happening in Corinth. (2) Spiritual Pride. This comes in many forms but if we feel that we are “better” than other believers because we have certain light or a higher level of truth or depth then we are being divisive. Even if we are “correct” in what we are promoting and maybe even if we are making a stand for not being divisive, we can bring division through our attitudes and treatment of other Christians. If we are truly coming into deep revelation of the Lord then it should be producing deep humility within us and driving us to greater intercession, inclusiveness, and love. (3) Doctrinal Differences. The mother of them all it seems. Simply put, we have no Scriptural right to divide ourselves from other believers because of our pet doctrines. What it boils down to is actually different angles of interpretation. The differences are usually limited to eschatology (last days), the nature of The Kingdom, super-natural manifestations, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. A doctrine can never be our center and God will never sanction division based on doctrinal differences. We must learn to meet around the Lord’s Person and to include those that have different interpretations than we do. Only through the unity of the Spirit will we come into truth and rightness of interpretation. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to do His (God’s) will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” If we get to know Christ in the context of His multi-various Body then we will come to the “true doctrine” (more on this in the next section). (4) Racial, National, and Social Distinctions. The Lord Jesus Christ has destroyed every human distinction on the cross and has created One New Man from every tribe, nation, and tongue. A local church cannot be determined by race, only by residence. Moreover, it is the nature of the One New Man and the testimony of The Church to be full of variety in its expression.

Restoring Christ-Centeredness – The Only Solution

I would like to now present the solution – the only solution – to the problem of division, the main problem that is plaguing Christianity. First we must start by humbly realizing that most of what we know about Christianity is probably wrong. This takes a delicate balance of laying down your spiritual pride without becoming a blind follower. It is crucial that we adopt a mindset that we are starting over at ground zero in our Christian experience and practice. There is simply too much religious fog for us to have to cut through in order to see a truly Christ-centered organic expression of the church. It is a lost cause unfortunately. It is a necessity for us to start from scratch if there is to be any hope! Second, we must be willing to dump all of our other centers, topics, and emphasis’. In essence, we must lower ourselves to just having the person of Christ as our one and only pursuit. And trust me, we have a plethora of other centers out there. Regardless of whether it is a traditional, institutional or house church we have an “other” emphasis that is usually our basis for fellowship when we gather. For some it is Bible study, for others it is the gifts of The Spirit. For some it is a style of praise and worship music, for others it is baptism. For some it is politics, for others it is signs and wonders. Still others include homeschooling, scholarship, vegetarian diet, social activism, hanging out, missions, and prophecy. All of these might be fine pursuits unto themselves but they are not to be the center of the ekklesia of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the motives involved, we have missed the mind of God when it comes to what is to be the focal point of why we meet together as saints - we have enjoyed our special interests. The next thing is we must determine to know Christ together as a group and not as a mob of individualists. Individual devotion to the Lord certainly has its place but it takes a backseat to the corporate pursuit of knowing and touching Him. Christ is a living Head that the church can meet around. He is full able to speak, lead, and feed His flock. We have no need for some other human mediator. Like the description of Jesus in the opening of John’s Revelation actively walking among the lampstands, He is still out walking today – with something to share and love to give. It is the Lord’s way that we are able to only go so far in our individual walk. It is by design that we only come to find the depths and heights of the Person of Christ in the fires of body life. This was the norm in century one. The early church knew nothing of the rugged individualism that so dominates the character of western Christianity. The practice of their faith was one and the same with an intense community lifestyle.

At this point you might be thinking, “So what would a truly Christ-centered expression look like?” For starters, those involved have come a long way in process with the Lord to where they are desperate and poor in spirit. They have exhausted just about everything that organized religion can offer. They are willing to abandon all to follow their Lord. They are screaming on the inside for genuine and authentic Christian community. The majority of their meetings take place in homes. Many have even made the decision as a group to all move into the same neighborhood (as their love for each other grew, so did their desire to live closer) in an urban/suburban area (not on some great acreage far removed from society to live the semi-monastic life but to let their light shine before men). They have ditched those two great hindrances – the clergyman (pastor, priest, reverend, etc.) and the worship leader. Every member functions and shares Christ in the meetings here. Christ is their doctrine. Christ is their creed. Christ is what they seek to know and encounter. Anyone can suggest and begin a song. Their singing is not a show or entertainment but a high, organic expression of their living Lord who overflows. The gatherings are creative, full of variety, and truly edifying. When the group makes decisions they make them by consensus – realizing that their unity is more important than the decision that is before them. The sisters have a first-class and honored status among all. The saints are careful to be non-sectarian and non-elitist in the testimony they are standing for, creating an atmosphere where Christians of all backgrounds can find a welcome common ground of easily accessible simplicity. They care for each other’s needs in all seasons of common life together. They want to raise their kids together. They want to grow old together. They want to marry and bury each other. It is a tribe. It is a divine-life village.

The above description of ekklesia life is exotically rare in our time and in our world today but it is a living reality for some. It is a daily reality for the group I meet/live with. It is realized by others I know in various cities around the globe. It is an ancient way – the way of the early church – when “she” was young, organic, and less distracted. Contrary to a popular notion that The Church today has somehow evolved and matured beyond the early quality of the first century (a sick joke in my opinion), the postmodern church is grossly out of touch with her true pristine nature. As we become familiar with the first-century story (narrative – not chapter and verse and letters out of order) we see a habitat for the new creation come into focus. Its ways developed naturally, a by-product of an indwelling Lord who is encountered by a people together. The church will grow into the fullness of Christ – with all of His gifts, riches, and supply - if she is allowed to. If she has Christ alone as her center. If she is built on Christ. If she is fed Christ. If she is watered with Christ. If she learns to eat and drink Christ herself. If she is allowed to enthrone Him as her Head - she will match His characteristics because it is in her DNA to do so. I am not talking about strict adherence to some New Testament pattern or formula to produce her but recognizing the natural way of an organism – life reproducing life after its own kind! The above description of a church life community with Christ as its center reveals the ways of The Way. I know my own daughter by her ways and characteristics – they distinguish her. I also know what she is not. The proof is in the pudding they say. If Christ is the center of a group of people then they will visibly reflect His image and He is satisfied. If He is not, then the traits of whatever is the center will be seen for what it is, a false image and lacking. The ways of this organism also transcend culture, they are not time bound. It matters not whether it is century one, 1492, 1640, 1950, or 2008. It matters not what country or society The Way is planted, her ways will thrive and show endemic to The Seed. These ways are organic, natural, and common to the nature of man and to The Godhead. They are relational and promote community. This cannot be said of the postmodern or institutional church. The ways of the organization are actually taken from culture, the traits of which reflect God’s enemy, fallen man, and pagan influences as its center – regardless of the motives involved. The intentions of the organization are betrayed by its practice. The ways of the postmodern church divide and scatter ultimately. God is limited at best, frustrated and unsatisfied.

Please consider my final thoughts in this section very carefully! The description I gave above of the ways of the organic ekklesia show an example of the fruit that will be seen when Christ is central. Only such a church can and is making inroads toward shaming God’s enemy and towards fulfilling God’s eternal purpose. This is the vital importance behind restoring Christ-centeredness to the gathering of God’s people. This is The Church’s very reason for existence on the earth! Paul wrote, “so that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose [of the ages] which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Eph. 3:10,11). Our reason for gathering as the saints in oneness is of gigantic proportion! We are participating and cooperating in nothing short of satisfying the beating heart of our Father. He has a purpose and an intention that He put into motion before the foundation of the world – that Christ His Son would have first place in ALL things – and He is looking at us as the vessels for realizing this dream. This is huge folks! The way that we practice church is a major key to whether or not we are on the road or just stuck in the mud for another generation. It reveals whether we are living by the nature of our glorified Lord or by the devices of the fallen man. We don’t have time to waste in the mire of ritual, pagan practices, propagating a man-centered gospel, and religious politics – scattered about by every wind of whatever. Church is not about satisfying my personal needs (though the secret is my needs will be met more fully as His satisfaction is first place in my life) or about getting “a touch” from God. It is all about God in Christ! It is time for the living stones to gather at the building site to be formed together as God’s house so He can be satisfied in His longing. It is time to restore the centrality of Jesus Christ in our practice. It is time to be conformed to His desires. It is time to be unified together with Him in The Spirit. The time is now sisters and brothers.

This article is to be continued next month ...