There are many divisions and splits under the broader banner of professing Christians. Even simply consider denominations: how many different Christian denominations can you name?
How many different Christian denominations can you name?
Perhaps we could curate an A-to-Z list of all the different types of professing Christian churches. ‘A’ for African Independent Churches, Anglicans, and Apostolic Faith Mission. Then there’s Baptists, Charismatics and Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed. Maybe we’d get all the way through to ‘Z’ for Zionists, with Ethiopian, iBandla lamaNazaretha, Lutherans, Methodists, Orthodox, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists taking up positions in between. Not quite A-to-Z, but I’m sure together we could fill in the blanks.
Worse still, those groups have their own sub-categories, splits and divisions. To the point that all of this represented on a spider chart would probably look like several bowls of spaghetti dumped onto the page. Quite a mess, both visually and practically. And this is exactly how the umbrella of Christianity presents to some. Thus the question is asked: don’t all these denominations and divisions prove that Christianity is rubbish?
Below are three points in response.
1. Certain Essential Divisions Are Expected and Necessary
The scriptures recognise that one of the greatest threats to Jesus’ people, is not outside, but inside. In other words: we are warned again and again that certain people will proffer Christians unsound doctrine and unbiblical practises. People who will, from within the church, try lead others away from the good news of Jesus. Again and again, and again, we are warned of false teaching and teachers (Acts 20:28-30; 1 Timothy 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:16-19; Titus 1:10-14; 2 Peter 2:1-3). As it was then, so it is today.
That means certain essential divisions in Christianity are expected. They relate to, for instance, Jesus’ identity and work (John 8:24; 1 John 4:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17); how we can be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 1:8-9; 5:4, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4); or God’s very character and promises. And in some settings where people will twist the scriptures to their own ends—and still claim to be ‘biblical’—it is often the ancient creeds and confessions of the Church that help us divide correctly, revealing cults and heresies to be what they are.
We expect division, even as we take no delight in it.
Christ-followers should never divide lightly or gleefully, or with pride and arrogance (1 Timothy 1:5). Godly division should come with humble self-reflection, deep prayer and confidence in God’s revealed will, sometimes with tears. The Spirit warns us about people devoted to division and fighting (Titus 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 20); lacking kindness and gentleness (Titus 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24-25); even among those who enjoy certain titles (Orthodox, Bible-believing, Reformed and so on). While knowledge of the truth leads to godliness (Titus 1:1, 16), this isn’t always the case.
To answer the question in focus, divisions here don’t prove Christianity is rubbish. Instead they point to a reality revealed by God to hold on to. Some will seek to distort the news of Jesus, often within Christian circles, even using the Bible and creating subsets of Christianity that don’t belong to Christ. God warns us against this. Therefore we expect division, even as we take no delight in it.
2. Other Divisions Are From Sin or Stupidity
There are certain divisions that simply prove that Christians can be idiots, sinful idiots. Here the issue isn’t the news of Jesus; it’s his followers. It points to the need for Christians to continue by God’s grace from start to finish. What might these missteps, or transgressions look like? I’ll offer three shorter answers.
We Might Make Preferences Into Priorities
We all have preferences, non-essential matters. And some divisions between denominations represent this. It could relate to liturgy or secondary doctrines, meeting times or venues, music styles or dress codes, or language. We want to do things a certain way. And sometimes it’s easier to split based on those matters, rather than accommodating and serving each other. This is even in certain doctrinal matters. Sometimes that’s okay; certain non-essential divisions are alright. Furthermore God can and certainly has used them.
We’ll want to recognise the danger of always claiming non-essential preferences as essential.
But sometimes they aren’t okay. This isn’t always black and white, which is part of the trickiness. And it takes humble and sacrificial discernment to sort those which are from those that aren’t. But we’ll want to recognise the danger of always claiming genuinely non-essential preferences as essential; always taking elements and saying ‘this is the only faithful way of doing or believing things.’ Here Protestants are often most guilty. We claim sola Scriptura but wield a solo Scriptura, using the Bible to create divisions that are little more than proof-texted individualism, divorced from the communal and historical voice of God’s saints, in accordance with the scriptures through the ages.
We Might Cause Divisions Because of a Lack of Charity
For example, sometimes we can strut around as the police of orthodoxy or orthopraxy. And as soon as we see a perpetrator of an offense, we label them and distance ourselves.
Sometimes we react too forcefully when we should respond with charity.
As per my first main point: some circumstances demand separation. But sometimes we react too swiftly and forcefully when we should respond with charity. By God’s Spirit, all of God’s people are works in progress—including with our beliefs and practises. And because we are not (yet) perfected packages, at times we’ll get things wrong. Thus we should resist hastily pronouncing relational schism as a first response. There are surely unnecessary divisions between Christians stemming from harsh charity-lacking responses.
We Might Plainly Split Due to Sinful Motives
Consider, for example, divisions after a main pastor has died or retired. Factions pop up to support one successor versus another in what, at the end of the day, looks more like politics and power-plays than recognising Jesus as our servant king. Certain men or women want to lead and hold the power or purse string. They demand to. Some might distort the truth to lure disciples into following them (Acts 20:30). Confusingly this can take place under the banner of true doctrine, but simultaneously the ungodly and selfish motives of Christian leaders are plain to see. The result is the same: division.
God is greater than our idiot moments, and our sin.
Again, even these divisions don’t prove that Christianity is rubbish. And, of course, God is greater than our idiot moments, and our sin. I can’t help but think of God using the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41), creating two missionary parties instead of one. But yes, we must keep a keen eye out for divisions stemming from stupidity and especially sin.
3. Overall, There’s Remarkable Unity Under Our Lord Jesus
Divisions, differences and denominations are not always inherently wrong. Many are simply down to history and providence, with no malice or issues behind them. For instance, perhaps someone moved from one country to another. In doing so they exported their type of home church into a new place. If several people do that in the course of history, going to the same place, the result is several forms of churches.
This side of Jesus’ return there will be differences in focus or expression.
It’s true, we can mistake secondary issues for primary ones; matters of indifference for essential ones; and our preferences for priorities. But there is a certain freedom in being able to have these different expressions. Furthermore, they can hold under the Lordship of Jesus; he’s that sovereign. We pray that the main things will be the main things. But this side of Jesus’ return there will be differences in focus or expression. We are finite, we are all being renovated in different ways and at times by God. This means certain divisions are okay. God isn’t against diversity, per se.
Broader than that, however, I’m always struck by how much comparative unity there is under Christ. While an elder in a local church, my main work is for a non-denominational ministry to university students. Hardly any of our students go to churches holding the same doctrinal convictions or practices as the local churches myself and the rest of the team have membership in. Yet I find brothers and sisters in the faith, united under the Lordship of Jesus, again and again. I enjoy fellowship with a wide range of saints, from other denominations. Even as we might disagree over certain issues there’s a unity under Jesus. It’s not that these divisions don’t matter, but at the same time they don’t rule out unity.
It’s a Mixed Bag, But We Have a Merciful God
Yes, there are many denominations under the broad banner we call Christianity. Yes, some of those divisions are necessary to separate those that hold to the good news of Jesus from those who don’t. And, yes, sometimes the divisions are less from God’s requirements and more from Christians making poor or sinful choices. We recognise that. But none of those discount the reality of God’s work in Jesus, and our responsibility to respond with ongoing repentance and faith to the good news about him. While many divisions exist, it’s also worth acknowledging there is still remarkable unity under Jesus as Lord.