Honoring Christ During Church Splits Without Fear
Honoring Christ during church splits involves maintaining unity and peace, even amidst disagreements, and recognizing that divisions can grieve Christ himself [7, 10]. The Apostle Paul implored believers to be united, stating, "Now I beseech you, brethren... 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" [11]. This plea highlights the importance of avoiding schisms and striving for a common understanding within the body of Christ.
Church splits are often seen as a rending of Christ's body, which is contrary to the unity he prayed for among his followers [3, 10]. Cyprian, an early church father, used the imagery of Christ's seamless tunic, which was not torn, to illustrate the indivisible unity of the Church [8]. He argued that just as the tunic was woven from top to bottom without seam, so too should the Church maintain its unity, which comes from heaven and the Father [8]. Augustine similarly lamented how marital fidelity vowed in Christ's name could be undermined by spouses belonging to separate communions, thereby "rending asunder Christ's own body" [10].
While some doctrinal differences are fundamental to the faith, such as the oneness of God or the divinity of Christ, other controversies may not necessarily destroy the unity of faith [9]. John Calvin distinguished between essential doctrines and those that, while debated, should not cause dissension between churches, especially if approached without contention [9].
Fear, in a theological sense, can refer to a reverence for God and a desire to obey Him, rather than a paralyzing terror [4, 6]. This "fear and trembling" in working out salvation, as mentioned by Paul, is not meant to strike terror into consciences but to prevent vain confidence and encourage secure trust in God's mercy [6]. Even when suffering "as a Christian," believers are encouraged not to be ashamed but to glorify God [1, 2]. This perspective suggests that even in difficult circumstances like church divisions, the focus should remain on honoring God and maintaining a tranquil confidence in His promises [5, 12].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Peter 4:16 — Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
- I Peter “I Peter 4:16 (KJV) — Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Grace of Christ as an Individual Man, Art. 6: Article: Whether in Christ there was the gift of fear? I answer that, As was said above (FS, Question [42], Article [1]), fear regards two objects, one of which is an evil causing terror; the other is that by whose power an evil can be inflicted, as we fear the king inasmuch as he has the power of putting to death. Now whoever can hurt would not be feared unless he had a certain greatness of might, to which resistance could not easily be offered; for what we easily repel we do not fear. An”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: they have signs of calling similar to those given to the elect; but I do not at all admit that they have that sure confirmation of election which I desire believers to seek from the word of the gospel. Wherefore, let not examples of this kind move us away from tranquil confidence in the promise of the Lord, when he declares that all by whom he is received in true faith have been given him by the Father, and that none of them, while he is their Guardian and Shepherd, will perish ( John 3:16 ; 6:39). Of Judas we shall shortly speak (”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: and so abused the goodness of God to their own destruction. But though you should hold that the words were addressed to elect believers, no inconsistency will follow. It is one thing, in order to prevent believers from indulging vain confidence, to repress the temerity which, from the remains of the flesh, sometimes gains upon them, and it is another thing to strike terror into their consciences, and prevent them from feeling secure in the mercy of God. 23. Then, when he bids us work out our salvation with fear and trembling, all h”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — ON CONTINENCE. (part 26): it was said, "Is Christ divided?"(2) and, "I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. I have given unto yon milk to drink as unto babes in Christ, not meat, for ye were not as yet able; but not even now are ye able: for ye are still carnal. For whereas there is among you emulation, and strife, are ye not carnal?"(3) Against whom doth emulation and strife lust, but against Christ? For these lusts of the flesh Christ healeth in His own, but loveth in none. Whence the holy Church, so long as it hath su”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH.(1) (part 6): should rather put on Christ.(6) Holy Scripture speaks, saying, "But of the coat, because it was not sewed, but woven from the top throughout, they said one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots whose it shall be."(7) That coat bore with it an unity that came down from the top, that is, that came from heaven and the Father, which was not to be at all rent by the receiver and the possessor, but without separation we obtain a whole and substantial entireness. He cannot possess the garment of Christ ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 83: are so necessary to be known, that all must hold them to be fixed and undoubted as the proper essentials of religion: for instance, that God is one, that Christ is God, and the Son of God, that our salvation depends on the mercy of God, and the like. Others, again, which are the subject of controversy among the churches, do not destroy the unity of the faith; for why should it be regarded as a ground of dissension between churches, if one, without any spirit of contention or perverseness in dogmatising, hold that the soul on quitti”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — TO MAXIMIN, MY WELL-BELOVED LORD AND BROTHER, WORTHY OF HONOUR, AUGUSTIN, PRESBYTER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SENDS GREETING IN THE LORD. (part 6): hindrance, making it unhappily impossible for our people who believe in Christ, and who share with one another in daily bread at home, to sit down at the same table of Christ. Do we not grievously lament that husband and wife do in most cases, when marriage makes them one flesh, vow mutual fidelity in the name of Christ, and yet rend asunder Christ's own body by belonging to separate communions? If, by ”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 1:10: Now I beseech you, brethren,.... The apostle having observed the many favours and blessings bestowed on this church, proceeds to take notice of the divisions and contentions which were fomented in it; and in the most kind and tender manner entreats them to take every proper step to prevent schisms among them: he does not use his apostolical power and authority, or lay his injunctions and commands upon them, which he might have done, but most affectionately beseeches them; styling them brethren, as they were in a spiritual relation, being children of the same Fa”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 63: by disgrace and ignominy, we have a higher place in the kingdom of God; 2021 and if we are slain, entrance is thereby given us to eternal life. The Lord having set such a price upon us, let us be ashamed to estimate ourselves at less than the shadowy and evanescent allurements of the present life. 8. Since by these, and similar considerations, Scripture abundantly solaces us for the ignominy or calamities which we endure in defence of righteousness, we are very ungrateful if we do not willingly and cheerfully receive them at the ha”