Factions

Factions

Factions belong to the works of the flesh. Gal. 5:19-21. We see clearly that they are in the same category as adultery, murder, and witchcraft. Factions are therefore as evil as can be.

Force of habit and opinions are at the root of people not understanding how bad the situation is. People do not even have an inkling of how bad it is, so to a certain extent they are excused. There are extenuating circumstances.

Almost all believers belong to one or another faction and are quite ignorant of the fact that there is something criminal about it. Some people are members of the State Church, others of the Methodist church, others of the Baptist church, others again are enrolled in a Pentecostal church, etc.

Instead of considering all this factionalism as foolishness and a shame, people are used to taking pride in belonging to such a faction. In other words, they take pride in committing works of the flesh!!! Every one of these fellowships, camps, denominations, or sects are a part or a faction in Christendom.

One part is here and another part is there; the one part has nothing to do with the other part. The Methodist is absolutely not a Baptist, and the person who is a Baptist is in no way a Methodist. This is terribly heart-rending according to the word that we are the body of Christ and members of one another!!!

Whether people belong to a large, recognized faction or a small, despised faction is just as bad, because in both cases they help to confirm the testimony that Christ has been divided into several parts, even though this is a false testimony! I must also ask as Paul did, “Is Christ divided?” 1 Cor. 1:13.

Therefore is it bad to belong to a denominational church? Yes, as truly as adultery, murder, and witchcraft are bad! Have another look at Galatians 5:19-21. You say, “Should I then cancel my membership?” Yes, this very day, if you hear God’s voice. As far as I am concerned, I will state with great boldness: I would rather die than be a member of a denomination!

Someone could say, “But aren’t you also a denomination? Are you not called ‘Smithians’ or ‘Smith’s Friends?’” No, not at all! That is only what others choose to call us.

See Acts 24:14. We do not have anyone on a membership list, and we do not cancel anyone’s membership. 2 Cor. 3:3. We serve everyone and are open to all without requiring anyone to adhere to an understanding of the doctrine or custom or form. We do not require unity of faith in God’s Son in order to have fellowship with others. See Ephesians 4:13.

One could also say, “Irrespective of what you say or do not say, you are a faction regardless!?” Yes, that is certainly true! Everything is two-sided! The one side is true, but the other side is also true! It is written, and it is written again. What is it that is written? It is written that factions are a work of the flesh: they are sin! What is written again? It is also written that “there must also be factions among you, that those who are genuine can be made manifest among you.” 1 Cor. 11:19.

Rightly understood, there will always be two factions among God’s people, but not more than two: those who are genuine and those who are illegitimate (Heb. 12:7-8); those who are sons of the freewoman and those who are sons of the bondwoman (Gal. 4); those who overcome and those who never overcome; those who love to do righteousness from their heart and those who find comfort only in Christ’s righteousness.

You can receive a pardon, the forgiveness of sins, and thus salvation from perdition within the factions (sects), but it is an inescapable fact that you cannot gain full victory over the works of the flesh in a faction since factions are a work of the flesh. That would be a self-contradiction. You have to be free from all factions if you want to become perfect, so that you are neither a Methodist, a Baptist, or a Pentecostal—but you are a Christian, an apprentice of Jesus Christ, a child of God, a member of the body of Jesus Christ who belongs to the church of the living God—neither more nor less.

We must learn to judge this matter (just as much as in other matters) as God and His Word judge it. We are apprentices. We must also learn this.