Today there are many schisms in the body of Christ.  A schism is a division or a separation.  The general reason for schisms in the body of Christ is a lack of commitment to the Lord and His word.  Congregations of the Lord’s people have to deal with sects in their very own congregations.  This problem did not begin today it dates back to even the first century while the church was in it’s infancy.  You would think that Christians would have the mindset to look back to those times and see what caused those divisions and that they would learn from them.  Yet, it seems just as the sun fades and the moon rises problems within the church are on every horizon.  What can be done to deter these things from the local works where there are faithful brethren trying to do nothing other than follow the one faith in it’s unadulterated form?

The New Testament repeatedly teaches that the church is to be united.  Paul, by inspiration, wrote to a divided church in Corinth.  He taught them in the clearest terms what the church was to be in relation to unity.  (I 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.”  The Lord is not divided on this issue but is firm and repeats this teaching to congregations through the pen of inspired writers.  Note some of the writings relative to this subject in the New Testament.  (Romans 12:16) “Be of the same mind one toward another…”  (Philippians 2:2) “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”  (Philippians 3:15-17) “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”  (Philippians 4:2) “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”  The Bible teaches that the body is one, and it needs to work as one (I Corinthians 12:12ff.).  Those who would cause divisions in the body of Christ are to be marked (Romans 16:17).

In the state of Pennsylvania there are not many different law books.  The same state laws apply statewide.  Our country has laws that apply nationwide.  We realize that these laws are not debatable.  If we break one of these laws we will be held accountable.  A teacher teaches math in Pennsylvania, and another in the state of Texas.  Both teachers will be teaching that 1 + 1 = 2.  This is mathematical law.  Regardless of where the mathematical problem is in this country the same formulas are applied to find the answers.  God’s law is an eternal law (I Peter 1:21-23), that applies to all people everywhere (Mark 16:15-16).  Yet, it seems that we can understand and unify on mathematical problems, but we cannot use the same formulas to solve Biblical problems even though there is only one answer and one formula.  Just like mathematical formulas, state, and federal laws there is God’s law.  For all Christians to come up with the same rules from the word of God they must use the same common sense they employ when looking at speed limit signs.  We cannot go beyond what is on that sign we will be punished if we do.  If we go beyond or fall short of God’s law we will be punished for that as well.  (James 2:10) “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  (Revelation 22:18-19) “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”  The only difference is that we might not get caught on a highway whereas God knows what we do at all times and we cannot hide things we do from Him (Psalms 139:1-6 and Jeremiah 23:24).

Paul stated among six other “ones” in Ephesians 4:4-6, that there was one faith.  It is the same faith that Jude referred to as the “…faith which was once delivered unto the saints” in Jude verse three.  This one faith, which is the word of God, must be the center of all discussions relative to things concerning the church.  Christ is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18) and the only way we know His will is through the written word (Hebrews 1:1-2, Colossians 3:17 and II Timothy 3:16-17).  There can be no “Pope”, no central government, no creed book, or any other pattern of authority other than the word of God.  If the same book, without the intervention of man is read, then there will be a common unity.  Paul made this same point to the Ephesians.  (Ephesians 4:13-16) “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  Notice that man is what causes us to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.  Christians must make up their minds to serve the Lord and forsake the ways of man.  If we do not we cannot serve Christ (Galatians 1:10).  There is simplicity in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 11:3), the difficulties that appear among us are added by mankind through the influence of the great deceiver (John 8:44).  We can apply common sense to problems we face simply by following the only rules there are, and those are the rules set forth in the word of God.

Paul stated in the first letter to the Corinthians chapter twelve and the twenty-fifth verse: “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”  Why today, can we not learn from what occurred in the New Testament writings?  Each autonomous congregation should guide itself by the word of God, which is the light to our paths (Psalms 119:105).  Christians should heed to the words that Jesus Christ prayed to His Father.  (John 17:20-23) “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”  Unity is not to come at the price of compromise, but true unity in the word is what Christ prayed for.  Can Christians today grant Christ His desire?  That question will be answered in time.  Consider in closing the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”