Divisions Among Believers

 Morning Musing June 28, 2017

Something interesting to consider...Today there is much division among believers, even believers dear to us...it can be hard to know what to believe. Some say so and so causes division everywhere he goes....what was said of Christ:

After Christ spoke truth to them it is recorded in John...

John 10:19
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. (For Christ's sayings)

John 7:43
So there was a division among the people because of him.

John 9:16
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.


Now was Christ going about as a man of strife? Certainly not...but some hearing of Him may have gotten such an impression from what they heard of Him.

Notice who we are to mark & why:

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Those who spoke doctrine CONTRARY to the truth...we must be sure that someone is truly speaking contrary to sound doctrine before we mark and avoid them...and hearing from everyone, but the person themself is not a way to be sure.

1 Corinthians 3:3

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1 Corinthians 11:18

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Since the early followers of Christ, there have been divisions among believers...

Christ says of Himself:

Luke 12:51

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

He was not a man of strife, nor was He carnal as Paul referred to some of the early believers...

Here is another verse to consider:

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you

I looked up the word heresies here, and the Strongs said, : from 138; properly, a choice, i.e. (especially) a party or (abstractly) disunion:--heresy

So, I get this idea from these verses, that divisions can be a result of carnality, yet divisions are something that comes about from speaking truth as Christ did, and division is necessary to make clear who is approved of God. Divisions can be very draining especially to young believers....we must draw near to God that we are not tossed with every wind of doctrine. And we must not be weary in well doing...we also must prove all things and not be quick to condemn others by what we have heard through the grapevine. These are just some quick thoughts I am musing on...here is another thought I shared recently on the matter:

...if you lived in Christ's time you may have heard a rumor of a carpenter's son who claims to be like unto God and speaks contrary to the wise and aged religious leaders, everywhere he goes divisions arise among the "men of God"...some speak well of him, and some say he has a devil....then you hear the news that this man is but a few hours away, would you forbear on seeing for yourself if the accusations against him are true? If so, holding to the opinions of others would have hindered you from the will & blessing of God.

John 8:48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

John 8:52
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.