Schisms in the Body - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Aug 21, 2024
- 6 min read
Schisms in the Body
1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
Intro: This message is from the heart of a pastor. During our revival, Bro. Brown preached a message on “Let Love.” It dealt with the importance of the church loving one another. That was probably one of the most needful messages that was preached that week.
I want to make two statements that I believe to be absolutely true.
1. Most Christians do not fully comprehend the importance of loving one another.
2. Most Christians do not fully comprehend the importance of unity.
A. The Rumors
· 1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
· 1 Corinthians 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you;
People will talk. That is one fact of life.
People in the church will talk about disagreements and arguments before they will the positives.
Most church members never say anything positive about their church.
But they can wax eloquent for hours about anything negative.
They will either hear about unity or the disunity, but they will hear about it.
The church will have a reputation in the community.
You will have a reputation in the church for uniting or dividing.
B. The Reality – 11:18
· 1 Corinthians 11:18 …and I partly believe it.
Most church schisms are based on an element of reality, mixed with inaccurate perceptions.
Preconceived ideas and prejudices are a huge part of any church division, mixed with some truth.
Illustration:
One group in the church has been here for years. They built the place. Paid for everything.
The other group came in much later and are relatively new to the ministry.
This reality plays a part in creating an “us and them” mentality.
The older group has watched people come in and leave for years, and they put up a wall.
The newer group thinks the older group don’t care about them because of this wall.
The newer members gravitate to other newer members, and herein lies the cliques and groups.
Over time, these groups are more and more convinced that their preconceived ideas are reality.
They actually become reality because the behaviour of the groups reinforces these perceptions.
C. The Reason – carnal
There is no question as to the root of the problem.
It is not a difference of opinion.
It is not personality conflicts.
It is not cultural or background issues.
It is carnality. One hundred percent of the time.
That is the root of the problem.
· 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
· Carnal reasoning.
· Carnal responses.
· Carnal reactions.
· Carnal recruiting.
· Carnal rejection.
· Carnal rebuttals.
· Carnal remembering.
It’s all carnal. Not one thing Spirit-filled about schisms in the body.
D. The Rebuke – multiple times – stop it!
· 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
DIVISIONS: Greek word for schism
I. The Schisms
A. Biblical Reasons
There are biblical reasons for people within a church to divide.
Here are just a couple of them.
1. Detrimental Lifestyles
Certain sins cannot be tolerated or ignored in the New Testament local church.
READ 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Sometimes you have to deal with immorality, and purge out the old leaven. (vs. 7)
2. Doctrinal Lies
1 Corinthians 11
· 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
· 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
B. Unbiblical Reasons
1. Divided Loyalties
1 Corinthians 1
· 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
· 13 Is Christ divided?
1 Corinthians 3
· 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
· 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
2. Diverse Laboring
1 Corinthians 12
· 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
· 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
· 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
· 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
· 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
· 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Everybody in the church has a job; a function; a purpose to fulfil.
It is not your job to keep up with it.
Many people are doing things behind the scenes that nobody knows about.
Loving people based on what you think they are doing or not doing is wrong.
Whether or not the members of the church are fulfilling their gift is irrelevant as far as you are concerned.
3. Diminished Loveliness
1 Corinthians 12
· 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
· 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
· 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
· 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
Not getting close to members in the church because you don’t think they are your “type” is unbiblical.
Don’t be blinded by barriers of age, skin-color, financial status, job description, etc.
Every member in this church is equally important.
If you think in your mind that a person is less honorable, the Bible says to bestow more abundant honor. Vs.23
II. The Solution
A. A Charitable Interest
· 1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
CARE: to be troubled with cares; to care for, look out for; to seek to promote one’s interests
· Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 13
B. A Compassionate Involvement
The Bible is clear that church members should be involved in each other’s lives.
· 1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
I believe that to be literal; not figurative.
I am honestly surprised at how many people do not understand this teaching.
Paul said it like this:
· Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
When one church member is suffering, all the members should suffer with them.
That means visiting them when they are sick.
That means calling to check on them; sending them cards; making food and taking it to them.
That means going to funerals of people in your church.
· …or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)
When one member is rejoicing, the whole church should rejoice.
That means going to weddings of the young people in your church.
Celebrating the birth of their babies; attending the baby showers and rejoicing with them.
Rejoicing when they buy their first home and have a house-warming party.
Attending their child’s graduation.
There should be standing-room only in here for school graduations!
The Bible teaches the people of God to be involved in each other’s life.
C. A Consistent Intercession
· Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
FACT: You can’t help but love and care about those that you consistently pray for.
Look around the church for a minute. Look at the people sitting around you.
How much time have you spent praying for them?
You won’t gossip about people you’re consistently praying for.
You won’t ignore people you consistently pray for.
You won’t argue with people you consistently pray for.
· James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Conclusion: Schisms in the body are wrong. God's people should love one another!
