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Social Sins-- Religious Division Introduction: Religious division is a fact. There are over 23,000 denominations. The net present increase is 270 per year, an average of 5 per week. Each with a different doctrine, practice, name, organization, etc. We have also seen religious division among "churches of Christ." Those who have studied church history know that in the 1850s and 60's there was the split over instrumental music and the Missionary Society. Then in the 1930's Premillennialism, followed by the 1950's and 1960's over institutionalism. Other splits have occurred over the years at individual congregations. It has gotten to be that religious division is a social sin. I) Religious Division A) Seen at Corinth 1. Was Christ divided? 1 Cor. 1.12-13 2. People often lineup after a dynamic speaker B) Seen with Diotrephes, 3 John 9 C) Causes people to be lost, confused, religion to be mocked 1. People have a false sense of security because they are a member of a denomination. Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc. 2. Religious confusion because they say everybody is right but they cannot be. Is Christ divided? Could an apostle have taught what is taught in one denomination and then another denomination? Example: infant baptism, once saved always saved. II) Why Does This Happen? A) False doctrine being taught by false teachers 1. A few years ago there was a raging debate over "false teaches" does it refer to someone who knowingly teaches false doctrine or anyone who teaches false doctrine. a. The key is the "false doctrine" anyone teaching falsely is to be confronted with the truth, Titus 1.10-11 b. A sincere false teacher will listen to the truth, and insincere false teacher will continue to teach falsely. 2. Every false doctrine offers a false hope. B) Improper attitudes, 1 Corinthians 3.1-3 1. Diotrephes was to have the preeminence. I must have it my way. 2. People dig in their heels and cannot admit they are wrong. C) Physical desires 1. 2 Peter 2 says they are covetous, v. 3, 14 2. Philippians 3.18-19 instead of setting their mind on things above they have their mind on the earthly things, Colossians 3.2 2. One cannot serve God and mammon, Luke 16.13 a. It may be materialism, sensual desires, popularity, Jude 19 b. King Henry VIII started the church of England because he wanted a divorce III) Religious Unity Was Jesus' Prayer, John 17.20-21 A) Up to that time religious division was a fact 1. Gentiles worshipped the creature rather than the Creator, Romans 1.25 2. Some Gentiles worshipped the true God 3. Jews worshipped according to the Law of Moses a. Even among the Jews you see religious division as they had the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essences, Zealots, etc. b. The Samaritans were a subset of Jews and Gentiles mixed together, John 4.22 4. In Jesus all those religious divisions were taken down. Ephesians 2.14ff B) How is religious unity possible? 1. We must go by what the Bible says, Ephesians 4.4-6. a. Doctrinal unity is only possible when we agree to go by the Bible and only the Bible. 2 Timothy 2.15 b. Doctrine cannot be compromised for the sake of unity. 2. We must have the right attitude toward each other, Phil. 2.4 a. How many religious divisions have occurred over people just not liking each other? b. Most churches that I have known to have split did so over attitude. c. "In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion liberty; in all things, charity." d. In matters of individual liberty we may have to separate and go our own way as Paul and Barnabas did in Acts 15.37-39 i. Not changing the doctrine of Christ ii. Not creating a separate church or denomination; fellowship Conclusion: Would Jesus be pleased by the religious division we have today? We need to strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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