I like to define my terms when studying or talking to people. It saves time getting to someone’s meaning instead of arguing because of misunderstandings. My definitions come from the Word as much as possible, especially, of course, when studying or talking about what God requires from His people. His Word regulates our individual behavior and our relationships in the best way possible, if we let it.
Many times in churches, I have been told that I’m a “divisive person.” This comment came on the heels of observations I made of the differences between what was being taught in a church and what is in the Bible. In other words, someone would say a teaching or a verse was in the Bible and if I knew that it wasn’t, I would say so. The result was that I was given the “divisive person” label and was asked to leave.
I wanted to find out if I was a divisive person, so I took some time to study about division or divisive people in the Bible. The first “divisive person” in the Bible is God. He divided Adam and Eve from Himself and the Garden of Eden. Later, He divides His people from the rest of the world at the time.
Exodus 8:23 ESV. “Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”
Here God was speaking through Moses to Pharaoh. He was going to lay plagues on the Egyptians but not on Israel. This divisive pattern continues throughout His Book. Those who follow God are divided from those who don’t. Even if we don’t see it, our Father takes note of the people who want Him and follow His ways and writes them in the Book of Life. People who don’t want God or His ways are divided from the flocks of people like goats from sheep.
There was division between people because of the teachings of the Christ (Luke 12:51; John 7:43, 9:16, 10:19) but Paul says there should be no divisions among you (1 Corinthians 1:10). However, later in the same book (11:18-19) he says there must be factions among you so that those who are genuine may be recognized.
1 Corinthians 11:18–19 ESV. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
A telling verse, misused by many, is written by Paul for us in Romans.
Romans 16:17 ESV. I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
What is “the doctrine that you have been taught?” What were the people of the time taught? Was it word of mouth, or was there, perhaps, a book? We need to know this so that we can correctly determine what is legitimately divisive. Thankfully for us, the question is answered by Paul many times when he speaks of “what is written.”
1 Corinthians 4:6 ESV. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. What is written is the book we call The Bible or Word of God today. At that time it was known as the Law, Prophets and Writings (later the New Testament was included). So to be a divisive person is to go beyond what is written in the Bible and create obstacles contrary to what the whole of the Word teaches.
All too often, however, a person is labeled divisive because they disagree with the doctrine of a particular church and not the Word of God. The church doctrine taught is rarely from the whole Bible. Generally it’s just a misinterpreted single verse or a couple of verses, and that usually just from the misnamed New Testament. Or perhaps it’s from the so-called church fathers. A little wool goes a long way to cover the furry gaps in the Church teachings.
For instance, Paul tells us there is only one body (Ephesians 4:4-6). This is obvious from even a cursory reading of the Bible. Yet the Church (all of them together) insists on creating itself as another body (and a whole bunch of bodies). Church doctrine also says that the Father rejected the Jews because of the crucifixion and created the Church instead. This is not what the written Word tells those who really want to follow God. We are grafted into God’s kingdom started by Him a long time ago. Paul gives us some more clarity about divisive people.
1 Timothy 6:3–5 ESV. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
It’s biblically obvious that the real divisive people are generally those who divide themselves from the Word. If I am considered divisive because I disagree with non-biblical teachings, then I’m actually dividing from people who have left the Word. I’ll let Elijah have the last word on divisive people as he confronted Jezebel’s false prophets.
1 Kings 18:21 ESV. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.
Shalom