Factions–Following Human Leaders–Leads to Heresy

Christ is not divided. But historically Christianity has been divided into groups following human leaders, past or present, ahead of Christ. The solution is an individual one, letting God perfect our unity with our brothers. It cannot be imposed by a human leader or organization.

When Paul wrote his first letter to them, the Corinthian church was divided by sects that claimed to honor, and to follow, certain human leaders. One group said, “I am of Paul,” another “I am of Apollos,” another “I am of Peter.” One group even proudly claimed, “I am of Christ,” thus treating Christ as if he were merely another competing human leader.¹ But, as Paul pointed out, those who did this, in placing their loyalties in a man’s name, were still fleshly, and walking like mere men.² “Has Christ been divided?”³ Of course not!

            However, ever since Paul wrote this warning to the Corinthians, the Church has been divided by believers who have been more loyal to their organizations and the names of their leaders, living and dead, than they are to the one Body of Christ. Indeed, to our shame, our organizations see to it that we are deliberately and consistently taught that we are Lutheran, or Wesleyan, or Catholic, or Baptist, or Methodist, or Pentecostal, etc., and that those outside of our own organization are not to be trusted in matters of the faith. Our denominational organizations have traditionally tended to do everything they can to build sectarian loyalty in their membership, and have been quick to take opportunities to point out the errors of groups that differ too greatly from them. But this, in itself, is the essence of heresy!

            Paul’s solution to this problem was to exhort the Corinthians individually to lay these divisions aside:

Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10.

This is an individual response, not a unity imposed from the top down.

Next: What About Church Discipline?