"Making divisions" is that biblical or not?
Making divisions, any x-member or any present member of the church of bible understanding will be very familiar with "making divisions". At meetings, when we got together, it was and still is customary to make divisions at the church of bible understanding. Where did that come from, where did it all start? How did we ever get into "making divisions"? Ever since the early days we had groups; Lambs, Young sheep, Older newly saved, middle and older brothers and sisters. Long before my time there were already "divisions"; according to the color code; black, brown, orange, silver, gold....or at meetings....those who were voted faithful, hopeful, trusted, a uniter brother, center leader etc,etc.....
OK, let's not get into all that, but let's consider;
IS MAKING DIVISIONS IN A CHRISTIAN GROUP BIBLICAL,
is it according to scriptures? Do the scriptures call for making divisions? Does God want us to make "divisions" among ourselves?
Here is the scripture that was always rubbed into our face and we told each other...
1 Corinthians 11:18+19 (RSV)
For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
So somehow that meant or became that we had to make divisions among us, that the genuine ones were to be seen.
And of course any one "opposed" to making divisions was already in the flesh, trying to hide...
OK, let's take a step back, what is 1 Corinthians 11 about?
Isn't it the Lord's supper? It is addressing how and how not to take the Lord's supper. Isn't that a fair statement? The subject Paul is addressing is how they were taking the Lord's supper. Is he telling them to make divisions or is he stating that he hears that there are divisions among them. Also note; he says, he PARTLY believes it....he isn't even convinced 100% or fully believes what he is hearing...
Dividing is of the Flesh, uniting, being one body is of the Spirit
Are there any scriptures telling us to make divisions among christian brethren?
I don't know of any and I looked up all the divisions, divide, dividing verses....
Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, DIVISIONS, heresies,
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you beforehand, as I also said before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
There you can clearly see, DIVISIONS is a work of the flesh.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all say the same thing, and there be no divisions among you, but you be united in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 12:25
that there not be division in the body, but that the members might have the same care for one another. (speaking of the body of Christ, the church)
Jesus telling the parable of the wheat and the tares Matthew 13:24-30
He put before them another parable, saying: The kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man sowing good seed in his fields. But while the men were sleeping, one hostile to him came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away. And when the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the darnel also appeared. And coming near, the slaves of the housemaster said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then from where does it have the darnel? And he said to them, A man, an enemy did this. And the slaves said to him, Do you desire, then, that going out we should gather them?
But he said, No, lest gathering the darnel you should uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest. And in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather the darnel, and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my granary.
And the explanation; Matthew 13:36-43
Then sending away the crowds, Jesus came into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field. And answering, He said to them, The One sowing the good seed is the Son of Man.
And the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the darnel are the sons of the evil one. And the hostile one who sowed them is the Devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the angels are the reapers. Then as the darnel is gathered and is consumed in the fire, so it will be in the completion of this age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all the offenses, and those who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth. Then the righteous will shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one having ears to hear, let him hear.
Fellowship, assembly, church - aren't those terms of unity?
God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit they unite us - but the devil divides
The Body of Christ
to be continued.....