Dissension and Division
I. Introduction
A. One of Jesus' desires for His church and His people was that
they would be unified
1. John 17:21-23
2. The unity of believers is a profound testimony to the love
of God!
B. A message also emphasized by the Apostles
1. 1 Corinthians 1:10
2. Philippians 2:1-4
C. Nevertheless, while God has desired unity, the history of
"Christendom" is a sad pattern of division
D. Variance from God's standard for unity, either from within or
without the body, is not pleasing to Him!
E. Such is dissension and division, condemned in Galatians 5:20
F. What shall we do?
1. What exactly is dissension and division?
2. What types of things fall under these categories?
3. How can we avoid it?
G. Let us consider the Scriptures for answers
II. Dissension and Division
A. The concepts of dissension and division are understood
1. Dissension: disagreement in opinion, usually a disagreement
which is violent, producing warm debates or angry words;
contention in words; strife; discord; quarrel; breach of
friendship and union (Webster's)
2. Division: the act of dividing or separating into parts,
any entire body (Webster's)
B. The Greek words and contexts establish the distinction
between the two
1. Dissension is from the Greek word dichostasia, which means
either dissension or division (Thayer's)
2. Division (other versions "sects," "parties," "factions") is
from the Greek word hairesis (cf. English "heresy"), meaning
"to capture, to choose, a body of men following their own
tenets" (Thayer's)
3. Dissension refers to the disputations that may exist among
brethren
6. Division is the result of the dissension-- development of
defined parties or sects that stand in opposition to each
other-- what we would call "sectarianism"
(Acts 5:17; 26:5; 28:22)
C. Both the process (dissension) and the result (division) lead
to difficulties within the body of Christ, and are declared
sinful by God
1. Dissension: Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 3:3
2. Division: 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Peter 2:1
D. What falls under the ideas of dissension and division?
III. Dissension and Division Within the Church
A. What causes dissension and division within the church?
B. Promotion of False Doctrines
1. From New Testament times to the present, the introduction
of false doctrine within the church has led to great
dissension and division
2. Romans 16:17, Galatians 2:4, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Peter 2
3. False doctrines deceive many and hinder God's people from
serving Him fully (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
C. "Cults of Personality"
1. Parties/sects often develop, normally surrounding a given
person
2. A preacher or an elder or an influential member
3. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
4. 1 Corinthians 3:3-5: indication of worldliness
5. Faith must always be in God and Christ, not in men!
D. Disagreements Over Liberties
1. Romans 14
2. While we must always be zealous for the Gospel, there are
matters concerning which God has no concern (Romans 14:17)
3. If a liberty is imposed on brethren who do not have faith
in the liberty, then a stumbling block has been placed in
their way (Romans 14:13-15)
4. If brethren condemn other brethren for practicing a
liberty, then inappropriate judgment has been made
(Romans 14:3, 19-21)
5. If not handled properly, these situations can divide a
church!
E. Other Disagreements
1. Sometimes the matter involved is trivial (color of carpets,
building location, etc.)-- disagreements regarding trivial
things can lead to dissension and division
2. Rivalries that may exist between two or more people can
escalate into full division
3. Anything that can lead to disagreement potentially leads
to dissension and division!
F. Not Functioning With the Body
1. Another form of division can happen when people do not
relate with other members of the body of Christ
2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (especially vv. 24-25)
3. When one does not involve oneself with fellow Christians,
one causes a division between him or herself and their
fellow brethren!
G. We can see how dissension and division enter the church, and
the consequences are evident
1. Sin enters the church
2. The church may lose members or have ill will to overcome
3. The witness of the church in the community is hampered
4. Only Satan wins when dissension and division are present!
H. What can be done about dissension and division?
IV. Avoiding Dissension and Division
A. There are many ways through which we avoid dissension and
division
B. Hold fast to the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9)
1. The best defense against false doctrine is understanding
God's truth!
2. 2 Timothy 2:15-- if we know how to properly handle God's
word, we will know when it is being used improperly
3. 1 Timothy 4:6: importance of preaching and teaching on
these things
C. Focus on God in Christ
1. It is easy for "cults of personality" to develop-- we see
the elder or preacher or influential member, but we do not
see God or Christ (John 1:18)
2. Nevertheless, we must remember that the men serving their
fellow Christians are just servants, and allegiance is owed
to God (1 Corinthians 1:13; 17; 3:5-8)
3. Those in such influential positions must maintain humility,
remembering who they are, and constantly must point to Jesus
and not themselves (Philippians 2:1-4, Hebrews 12:2)
D. Provide No Occasion of Stumbling
1. Romans 14:18-21
2. If a matter of disagreement is really a matter of liberty,
it is not worth it to impose your will on another!
3. If God has accepted both, surely we can accept both also
4. Nevertheless, we must not confuse matters of peace,
righteousness, and joy in the Holy Spirit with matters of
liberty (cf. Romans 14:17)
5. Consider well Romans 14:12-13; 15
E. Maintain Humility, Love, and Peace
1. What is the main point of 1 Corinthians 1:10 and
Philippians 2:1-4?
2. We must maintain the unity of the faith, being of the same
mind and judgment
3. That unity is in Christ Jesus and His truth (Galatians 1:6-9,
John 17:21-23)
4. That takes effort!
5. Disagreements will naturally arise when human beings get
together
6. Disagreements are not going to go away-- the issue is how
one handles such disagreements!
7. Hence Philippians 2:1-4: we must be humble, remembering
that we are all servants of Another (cf. Romans 14:12),
we must show love, considering the needs of others before
ourselves, and not seeking merely to advance our own
interests!
8. If we truly seek peace and that which builds up
(Romans 12:18; 14:19). we will do better at recognizing
what needs to be contested and what is of no consequence
9. If we all really did this, how many disagreements could
come to an end? How much more could be accomplished
together?
F. Involvement With Others
1. To truly be part of the Body of Christ, one must function
with other members
2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Acts 2:42-46
3. We have to open up to each other and jointly participate
in the Gospel if we do not want to become a separated part
of the Body of Christ, ready to be cut off!
V. Conclusion
A. As we look around the religious world, we can see that the
hope that everyone who would call on Christ's name would be
one is not likely to come to pass
B. Satan has done well fomenting dissension and division through
false doctrine, ungodly behavior, and in many other ways
C. Nevertheless, we can work for peace and unity, and through
knowledge of the truth, humility, love, peace, and joint
participation, we can maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace (cf. Ephesians 4:3)
D. Let us avoid dissension and division, and obtain the unity
that Christ seeks!
E. Invitation/songbook