Dissension Inside the Church
Dissension inside the church can come from anywhere for any reason. The result is always the same; the church disbands, members are hurt, and most of all the message of Jesus Christ is obstructed and even prevented.
There are many reasons for the dissension inside a church and it always begins with the leadership of the church. Are the leaders disreputable, indecent, immoral, or shameful? If so then they can only expect devastating results. Romans 16:17-18 conveys that we should observe, keep watch of, those which cause division or dissension and offences that are contrary to the doctrine which we have learned; and avoid them. They are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
This can be found with any social gathering or committee gathering. There are those people who take advantage of any discord that is going on at any given time. They usually smile and talk sweetly of the expectation that they hope to gain. Just as long as they are spinning and promoting their opportunities there is a smile and sweetness. That smiles “turns upside down” and their whole demeanor changes once someone challenges them. This then turns into a dissension and the congregation must choose which side they will take.
Dissension is when the church becomes a state of disunity. Many churches in our past history of the churches were guilty of dissension. The church at Corinth had to divide into factions over different personal matters, jealousy, selfishness and even pride. They took part in the worldly of their times. Just like churches of today do. They follow after the latest trend and call it good. It is in reality that they are following the flesh. The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (unbridled lust, excess, outrageousness, shamelessness), Idolatry (the worship of false gods), witchcraft (the use or the administering of drugs, poisoning, sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it), hatred, variance ( contention, strife, wrangling), emulations (an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (dissension or division), heresies, Envying’s, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:20).
Paul addressed this problem of having dissension inside the Thessalonian church by saying if any man does not obey the word by this epistle, take note of that person, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).
Paul speaks to the congregation in the Corinthian church and beseeches them by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Paul knew there were contentions among them. Paul reminds us all that Christ was not divided, we were not crucified for anyone, and we were not baptized in the name of anyone except in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
Before you say this only happens in the churches of old take a long hard look at your church. There are complications anytime you bring a group of people together. This includes churches. There are many factions in any church there are the workers, planners, watchers. There are always money matters and you always those members who find fault and raise their voice in dissention. There are members who object to everything they are never happy with any decision for the expanding of the church. This negativity causes dissention.
Oh how devil loves to get involved in the churches activities for the sole purpose of destroying the church. One of his favorite stomping grounds is the business congregational meetings. It only takes two church members who have disagreements. This causes arguments about trivial things that really do not matter. All that matters to devil is a good argument or disagreement and he can turn it into a full fledge war.
We are told to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walk about, seeking whom he may devour. Who resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9).
The devil has many tricks to stir up dissension inside the church using rumors of miss conduct among the pastor or others in the churches congregations. The devil spreads half-truth with just a hint of improprieties. This could divide the whole body of church goers. This can then turn into scandal and destroy members or the whole congregation.
Proverbs 6:12-19 is the perfect example as to what the LORD hates. They are a naughty person, a wicked man, walks with a distortion, crookedness of the mouth. These people wink with their eyes, speaks according to their pace, and teach with their own grasping. Perversity or perverse things are in their heart, they devise evil, misery continually, they sow discord or dissension. Their calamity or destruction comes suddenly. Suddenly shall they be broken without remedy. These six things do the LORD hate: the seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that devised wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sow discord among brethren. The LORD despises those people who sows seeds of discord among the brethren and causes dissension.
When there is dissension inside the church the purpose of the church gets lost. This dissension stops the growth of the church and members leave. Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:10).
We can never lose the purpose or the reason for the church. There are many kinds of churches; those churches that serve the people, those churches who serve the pastors, and those churches who serve the money holders just to name a few. Dissension inside the church can confuse the purpose of the church and even lead it to destruction.
We know that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on the Lord if they do not believe and are not lead or taught? How shall they believe in the Lord if they have not heard because of the dissension and the confusion of the pastor? How shall they hear without a preacher? How can a preacher preach except they be sent? It is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15).
Our Lord Jesus Christ loves the churches and has given Himself for it. The devil wants churches to fail and the weapon that evil pulls out of their arsenal is that of causing dissension. All members of the church should ask themselves if they are being used by evil to prevent their churches from growing for the LORD. They should watch those who are causing dissension and step forward to stop it not sit by with their Bible unopened in their laps.
All those that are causing dissension must be admonish. It is the responsibility of the congregation to stop the dissension before the church, its purpose and its mission is lost. The church has many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. We can never lose sight we are all one body in Christ, and every one member’s one of another. (Romans 12:4-5).
When one member suffers, all the members suffer with that one member; when one member is honored all the members should rejoice with that member. The church is the body of Christ, and members in particular (one of the constituent parts of a whole). (1 Corinthians 12:26-27).
Let me remind you there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. Not tribulation, or distress, or persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or even the sword. It is written, for the sake of Jesus Christ we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rather in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Dissension Inside the Church:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2195,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “Dissension Inside the Church:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2195,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Dissension Inside the Church:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2195, (accessed).
