Gal 5:19-21
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The stern warning here is that sectarianism, factions, parties and divisions are works of the flesh, and inheriting the kingdom of God is at stake.
Why should God let us into the kingdom to live with one another where there is no divisions and no factions, if we haven't first learnt to live together on Earth?
To live and walk in the Spirit will solve all the problems of the flesh, including sectarianism, which is a manifestation of the sinful self-nature.
There is no example in scripture of an apostle (such as Paul) or anyone, refusing to meet in a church because they did not agree with the method of baptism, style of worship, views about speaking in tongues, etc.
The way of sectarianism is the way of individualism, confusion and discord:
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
"not a God of confusion" -
The situation in Christianity today is one of confusion. There are thousands of different sects and groups within Christianity.
"of peace" - There are long standing rifts between the sects. This is not a situation of brotherly love and peace but of discord.
A family divided because one is Christian and the other non-Christian is biblical, Jesus said our enemies are likely to be those closest to us.
But a family divided because one is of one sect and the other is another sect of Christianity, is not biblical, it is condemned, because both have the one and same Lord, Spirit, and Heavenly Father.
"As in all the churches of the saints" - Every church in the early days held to the same doctrine and practice as communicated by the apostles. Note it does not say "as in all the sects of the saints".
Sects commonly call themselves churches, but they are not churches in the New Testament sense. A church in the New Testament included every believer within a location (Corinth, Rome, etc). But a sect divides Christians according to their doctrine, practice or founding member.
The situation of sectarianism is that each sect holds to its own doctrine and practice, and attempts to conform or reform other believers and unbelievers to its ways. The main issue is an issue of identity. A sectarian person will identify you, and separate/distinguish you, by your doctrines, practices, or which group of people you fellowship with, rather than seeing you simply as a believer in Christ.
The ministers of sects will promote the sectarian line, with no genuine interest in those outside the sect. The interest they would have towards those outside the sect, is to conform them to their own ways.
However the ministers to the body of Christ, care not for labels or names, but minister to all who have the one faith in Christ.
The Christian attitude:
I will meet with any believers who are living in my area, because they all have the same Holy Spirit, Saviour and Father as I do.
I will meet with anyone who believes in Christ.
I consider myself to be in the same church as every other believer in my local area.
I will minister to anyone the Lord leads me to, and not distinguish between believers by their maturity level, doctrine or practice.
I will promote and further only the cause of Christ.
The Sectarian attitude:
If there are no believers of the same sect as mine in my area, I will start a new plant or branch of my sect in that area, or I will remain in isolation and fellowship over the internet with like-minded people.
I will meet with only those who think and believe the same as I do.
I consider myself to be in a different church, to other believers in my local area.
I will minister only to those in my own sect, and I will let other sects do as they please.
I will promote and further the cause of my own sect.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The stern warning here is that sectarianism, factions, parties and divisions are works of the flesh, and inheriting the kingdom of God is at stake.
Why should God let us into the kingdom to live with one another where there is no divisions and no factions, if we haven't first learnt to live together on Earth?
To live and walk in the Spirit will solve all the problems of the flesh, including sectarianism, which is a manifestation of the sinful self-nature.
There is no example in scripture of an apostle (such as Paul) or anyone, refusing to meet in a church because they did not agree with the method of baptism, style of worship, views about speaking in tongues, etc.
The way of sectarianism is the way of individualism, confusion and discord:
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
"not a God of confusion" -
The situation in Christianity today is one of confusion. There are thousands of different sects and groups within Christianity.
"of peace" - There are long standing rifts between the sects. This is not a situation of brotherly love and peace but of discord.
A family divided because one is Christian and the other non-Christian is biblical, Jesus said our enemies are likely to be those closest to us.
But a family divided because one is of one sect and the other is another sect of Christianity, is not biblical, it is condemned, because both have the one and same Lord, Spirit, and Heavenly Father.
"As in all the churches of the saints" - Every church in the early days held to the same doctrine and practice as communicated by the apostles. Note it does not say "as in all the sects of the saints".
Sects commonly call themselves churches, but they are not churches in the New Testament sense. A church in the New Testament included every believer within a location (Corinth, Rome, etc). But a sect divides Christians according to their doctrine, practice or founding member.
The situation of sectarianism is that each sect holds to its own doctrine and practice, and attempts to conform or reform other believers and unbelievers to its ways. The main issue is an issue of identity. A sectarian person will identify you, and separate/distinguish you, by your doctrines, practices, or which group of people you fellowship with, rather than seeing you simply as a believer in Christ.
The ministers of sects will promote the sectarian line, with no genuine interest in those outside the sect. The interest they would have towards those outside the sect, is to conform them to their own ways.
However the ministers to the body of Christ, care not for labels or names, but minister to all who have the one faith in Christ.
The Christian attitude:
I will meet with any believers who are living in my area, because they all have the same Holy Spirit, Saviour and Father as I do.
I will meet with anyone who believes in Christ.
I consider myself to be in the same church as every other believer in my local area.
I will minister to anyone the Lord leads me to, and not distinguish between believers by their maturity level, doctrine or practice.
I will promote and further only the cause of Christ.
The Sectarian attitude:
If there are no believers of the same sect as mine in my area, I will start a new plant or branch of my sect in that area, or I will remain in isolation and fellowship over the internet with like-minded people.
I will meet with only those who think and believe the same as I do.
I consider myself to be in a different church, to other believers in my local area.
I will minister only to those in my own sect, and I will let other sects do as they please.
I will promote and further the cause of my own sect.
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