Church splits, what does God think?
By Dean Honeycutt
Mitchell County
I am writing about Church splits, what are they, and who do they affect? This is a touching issue right now because of a recent church split. Do I have any right or obligation to write about church splits? Absolutely, because all the early New Testament leaders (Apostles and pastors) were involved with issues concerning the churches. That is why the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) met to discuss the exclusion of circumcision and salvation. Over the years the church and its leaders have come together to decide doctrinal issues. From the earliest of times second century ad., the Apostles Creed, to more recent meetings 1742 The Philadelphian Confession.
A church split is when two groups of people disagree about something in a church. The disagreement becomes so divisive that one group leaves the church. Who is in the right? The people who leave or the people who stay. Thom S. Rainer, a thirty-year veteran in ministry, author, and founder of Church Answers cites four reasons a church may split. Churches tend to split because of a power struggle within the church that involves deacons and pastors, church members who sow seeds of discord, financial problems, and doctrinal issues. (Nine Thoughts on Church Splits; Thom S. Rainer) I have never been associated with a church split, however every church I have known to split was because of a power struggle within the church.
God is not happy when a church splits. Church splits do not demonstrate the love of Christ. Church splits are a terrible testimony to the Body of Christ. Church splits do not send a Christian message to an unbelieving community. A church is to be unified and in harmony with one another. It is a shame when our sin and pride divide the body of Christ. What are we going to do when we get to heaven and see the very people we argued with? Or those who are so divisive may not go to heaven. God is not the author of confusion. Satan wants to divide and deceive.
A person may have a leadership position and they are in control and are unwilling to humble themselves and relinquish control for the benefit of the church. No one benefits from a church split. People may say things that can never be taken back.
Churches who are experiencing problems want to resolve these issues internally and do not reach out for help to a council of pastors. I understand churches like their autonomy, but are we accountable to God and the Bible, and would it not be helpful to seek Godly counsel from Godly pastors who could help guide churches through potential problems that lead to a split?
The Apostle Paul spoke of divisions in the Corinthian Church. 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.” 1 Corinthians 12:25 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
What is the right response to church division? Pray for wisdom and guidance. Understand what the Bible says about unity. Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Ask what the best for the church is. What would Jesus do in this situation? Is it better for the church if I resign? What does the Bible say about this doctrine? Who can I go to and ask for forgiveness? How can we resolve this problem before we split? Make every effort to avoid a church split.
Dave was rescued from an island he had been stranded on for twenty years. He was the only living person on the remote island. He showed his rescuers all the buildings he had built while on the island. One person noticed two churches. They asked Dave why there were two churches. Dave replied, “We had an argument at the first church, so I left and went to the second church”.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dean Honeycutt
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Pastor Dean Honeycutt shepherds Snow Hill Baptist Church in Bakersville, NC. He may be reached at 828-385-0213, snowhillbaptist@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.snowhillbaptist.com.
You can read more good Christian news from Dean HERE.
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God bless you, my brother! I have been deeply troubled over a situation like this. Thank you for having the courage to write it because whether or not we want to believe it, it is the truth. God’s Word has stood the test of time. It is the truth, the living Word of God. We as Christians are to stand for the word of God, and by doing so, our lives will live out that word of God. God is indeed a Holy God, a righteous God, a God who loves every person. When we turn our back on Him we are in deep trouble. Where are the prayer warriors of our churches? Surely, the heart of God must be grieved with all of us for failing to accept what is the word. We can talk about the word. We can try to teach it and preach it. But more than anything else, our loving almighty God wants us to live it and reach out and love our fellow man. Jesus said “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you”. Never have I seen our communities, our neighborhoods, our schools, our churches, our government, in more turmoil than today. I am a product of the kind of church you are talking about. I was saved when I was 9 years old in a revival. I have attended revival at the church when there was no room for us kids to sit in the seats. I have sat on the edge of he pulpit steps so someone else could have my seat. I heard the call of God when I was 17 or 18 years of age. I thought I was a nobody, that surely God had made a mistake. But when I was 24, at a Sunday night service, before I knew what I was doing I was in the altar proclaiming that God had called me to preach. I feel like I am one of the least of His children. But some way, some how, for 50 some years I have been in the ministry. I love my friends, my neighbors. I long to see the moving, the cleansing, the changing, the forgiving, the shaking of the power of the blessed Holy Spirit like in the beginning of the New Testament church when Paul and Silas were in jail and they started praying and things started to happen. I am not condemning anyone. I ask only that we bow before almighty God. No matter who you are, l love you and want you to live for Christ.
Thank you, preacher, Vernon, I love you as well. Thank you for your words and encouragement.
pastor Dean Honeycutt / Snow Hill