LXII: Division

While preaching recently, I noticed something about 1 Corinthians 12 that I hadn't noticed before:

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:24b-25).

When we speak of "divisions" in the church, we normally gravitate toward divisions on account of false doctrines, or the imposing of a liberty (or the lack thereof), or some other substantive issue, no matter how ridiculous that issue might be.

Yet this does not seem to fit the context here at all. No-- when Paul speaks about division in this passage, division has less to do with doctrine or things as much as a lack of openness, love, and mutual honesty/accountability.

It's a difficult idea to swallow: when we are unloving or discouraging toward the brethren, we create divisions within the body. When we withhold ourselves from the brethren-- do not confess our sins to one another (James 5:16), do not allow others to bear our burdens (Galatians 6:2), and in various ways compose ourselves in ways aloof from our brethren-- we are the authors of division within the body.

The type of division concerning which Paul speaks can only be addressed by members having "mutual care" for one another.

The Body of Christ is not one only by its very nature: it's something to which we must diligently apply ourselves. We can only be one in the body of Christ when we work toward that end, being open with one another, accountable to one another, seeking to both be a source of encouragement and to gain encouragement within the body.

Therefore, when we consider the potential for division within the body of Christ, let us not neglect the divisions caused by a lack of love, a lack of interconnectedness, and a lack of true association/joint participation. These forms of division are just as insipid, if not more so, than the threat of false doctrines et al. After all, remember Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)!

ELDV