There are many passages in the Bible about unity, forgiveness, and love. Yet why is it that churches seem to struggle with division, discord, and pain just like any other group? The reason may be obvious: churches are made up of people, and people are naturally sinful, selfish, and self-righteous.
Being a Christian doesn’t automatically remove our natural proclivity to sin. The Spirit’s transforming work in us is ongoing. Paul describes this inner war in Romans 7:18-19 “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
It is in our posture of weakness and submission that we find the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. His forgiveness covers our iniquity and means as Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
What Does Division Mean?
At its core, division means separation, disunity, or a breaking apart. In the context of the church, it usually refers to:
- Relational division – people turning against one another (factions, gossip, unresolved conflict)
- Doctrinal division – disagreement over teachings, especially when it leads to splitting the body
- Spiritual division – when people claim to follow Jesus but act in ways that oppose His Spirit (selfishness, pride, judgmentalism)
In the New Testament, a few Greek words are used to describe division:
- “Schisma” (σχίσμα) – where we get “schism” from. It means a tear or split. (John 7:43, 1 Corinthians 1:10)
- “Dichostasia” (διχοστασία) – means standing apart, dissension. It’s listed as a work of the flesh in Galatians 5:20.
- “Eris” (ἔρις) – means strife, contention, quarrels. Also in Galatians 5:20.
These words are often tied to pride, selfish ambition, and a refusal to listen or reconcile.
We are all going to experience division in the church if we’re around it long enough. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work towards fixing it. Each of us have a call upon our lives to follow Christ, and that means we do our best, even when we’re in opposition to others around us. God created the church to be diverse in our giftings, abilities, and callings.
Is Division Always Bad?
It’s worth noting—not all division is wrong.
- Jesus said in Luke 12:51: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
(Here, He’s talking about the natural division that happens when people respond differently to truth.)
Sometimes division reveals who is standing on truth and who is not. But intentional divisiveness—meant to cause strife, elevate self, or tear down others—is never from the Spirit.
Paul Isn’t Surprised by Division
1 Corinthians 11:18-19
“In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.”
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, which was full of problems—factions, pride, misuse of spiritual gifts, and division during the Lord’s Supper. In this specific chapter, he’s addressing how they were abusing the Lord’s Table, turning it into a self-centered feast rather than a Christ-centered remembrance.
- “Divisions” (Greek: schismata) in verse 18 refers to relational rifts—likely rooted in classism, where wealthier believers were excluding or shaming poorer ones during communal meals (see v. 20–22).
- “Differences” (Greek: haireseis) in verse 19 can also mean “factions” or “sects.” But Paul adds an unexpected twist…
Paul seems to say:
“Yes, there are divisions among you—and while that’s not good, it’s also not entirely surprising. In fact, sometimes those divisions reveal who is genuinely approved by God.”
In other words, God uses division at times to expose hearts:
- Those who seek power, recognition, or selfish gain may end up at odds with those who truly walk in humility and truth.
- It’s a sobering reminder that not everyone in the church is living according to the Spirit—even if they seem spiritual.
Other Causes of Disunity
In Matthew 23, Jesus’ offers a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. It’s often called the “Seven Woes” passage. He exposes their hypocrisy, legalism, and desire for status—all while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
How It Connects to Division:
- Religious Pride Creates Division
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others… they love the place of honor…” (v. 5–6)
When leaders care more about appearances and control than love and truth, it divides the church into insiders and outsiders.
- Hypocrisy Undermines Unity
“You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.” (v. 13)
They claim to represent God but actually prevent people from encountering Him—this creates a spiritual barrier, not unity.
- Majoring on Minors Divides the Body
“You give a tenth of your spices… but you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.” (v. 23)
Legalism creates judgmentalism and division over secondary issues, while missing the heart of the gospel.
- False Authority Damages the Church
“You are like whitewashed tombs… outwardly righteous, but inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (v. 27–28)
People follow their example, leading to a culture where image > integrity, and that erodes trust and unity.What’s powerful is that Jesus isn’t being divisive by calling this out—He’s exposing the real source of division: self-righteous, power-hungry religion that excludes others while claiming to represent God.
Unity Doesn’t Mean Uniformity
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 12:12
- Paul goes on to explain how each member is necessary, even if they look or function differently.
- Verses like 12:21 (“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you’”) emphasize interdependence.
- Verse 12:25: “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
- Verse 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
Paul is addressing spiritual pride and favoritism over spiritual gifts. Some believers were elevating certain gifts (like tongues or prophecy) and looking down on others. Paul corrects them by showing that all parts of the body are essential, and unity doesn’t mean uniformity.
Conclusion: Guarding the Unity of the Body
Division in the Church isn’t just a relational issue—it’s a spiritual one. Scripture is clear: the body of Christ was never meant to be fractured by pride, gossip, legalism, or selfish ambition. And yet, as broken people—even with the Spirit dwelling within us—we still get it wrong. We stumble. We speak when we should listen. We draw lines where God never did.
But God has not left us to figure this out alone.
The Holy Spirit is working within us to form the character of Christ—producing love, humility, patience, and self-control. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. It means learning to live as one body with many parts, anchored in truth and bound together by love.
If we want to avoid being divisive in the Church, we must examine not only what we believe—but how we behave. We must ask:
“Am I building up the body of Christ, or tearing it down?”
Jesus prayed that we would be one, just as He and the Father are one (John 17). That kind of unity is possible—but only when we let the Spirit lead, and we choose grace over ego, truth over tribalism, and love over being right.
