False Reasons for Religious Division

Confusion, division, and disagreement abound in religion. This is evidenced by the number of church buildings you pass as you drive down a busy street or the number of listings under the heading “churches” in the yellow pages of your phone book. Religious people are divided into hundreds of different denominations, wearing different names, worshipping in different ways, and teaching different doctrines. But why does this religious division exist? Although many things can be identified as causes for division, it is not my purpose to list them in this article. Instead, I want mention a few things that are definitely not to be blamed for religious division.

Division’s existence is not because God approves of it.Some people think God does not object if sincere people are religiously divided. They say, “All the churches follow Jesus, so just join the church of your choice.” This attitude suggests that God approves of division. The Bible teaches just the opposite. As Jesus prayed to the Father, He made known His desire for His disciples to “all be one; even as Thou, Father, are in Me, and I in Thee.” (John 17:19). Paul reiterated this thought as he wrote these words from 1 Corinthians 1:10: “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Although in this passage Paul spoke for the need for unity among the local church in Corinth, certainly a universal application can be made as well. Furthermore, Paul in wrote in Ephesians 4:3 that Christians should be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This plea for unity is followed by verses designed to bring us to the logical conclusion that we should be one (please read Ephesians 4:4-6). These passages clearly prove that Jesus does not approve of religious division. Therefore, God is not to be blamed for religious division.

Religious division exists, but it is not because God’s will is unrevealed or incomplete. Some people say that disagreement exists because God has not told us everything we need to know. Or perhaps truths have been lost or changed over the centuries. However, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The Scriptures provide us completely to all good works. If the Bible we have is able to equip us for “every good work”, how many good works does it not equip us for? None! Therefore, we have everything we need in the Bible to do God’s will properly. Furthermore, His word is able make the man of God “adequate”. The King James Version uses the word, “perfect”. The word means “complete”. If we have all we need to make us “complete”, how much more do we need? Nothing! God has told us everything we need to know to be righteous. We have everything we need to know in order to be united. The reason division occurs is not because God’s complete will has not be revealed or because His word is incomplete.

It is not true that religious division exists because the Bible contains errors or contradictions. Some people suggest that Bible believers contradict one another because parts of the Bible contradict other parts. Or perhaps the Bible is in error or inaccurate on some points. Thus, in their mind, we cannot be united because God’s word is not united. However, Jesus claimed that God’s word “is truth” (John 17:17). If it is true, then logically it cannot contradict itself. It is always right and can never be wrong. Truth will never contradict other truth. Jesus said, “if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”“let God be found true, though every man be found a liar...” (Romans 3:4). (Mark 3:24-25). If the Bible contradicts itself, then God would be divided against Himself. God’s word is infallible, harmonious, and unified. It cannot be wrong, and it cannot contradict itself. If people disagree with the Bible, then it is the people who are wrong, not the Bible:

Division’s existence is not because the Bible is impossible to understand. Some people think that the average person cannot possibly understand the Scriptures, so people just naturally disagree about what it means. In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul told Timothy that, “the sacred writings... are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” How could they do so if we cannot understand them? If “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), then how can we have faith if we cannot understand the revealed will of Jesus. Jesus once said to a multitude, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand.” Why did Jesus command them to do something, if it was impossible for them to do it? Since they could understand God’s word, we can too! God revealed the Bible to make known His will. If we cannot understand the message, then God has failed. But how can an all-wise, all-powerful God fail? He cannot and did not fail, therefore, we can understand God’s word and be united.

The problem with all these explanations is that they place the blame on God and the Bible. But God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Therefore, the cause for religious division is not God nor His word. We must look elsewhere for the real causes of division.