For first of all, when ye are come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you, and I partly believe it. 1 Corinthians 11:18
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, tells of a dream that he once had in which he was transported to the gates of hell. He stood there and called out: ‘Are there any Roman Catholics here?’ ‘Yes, came the reply. ‘Are there any Presbyterians?’ ‘Yes,’ was the answer. ‘Any Congregationalists?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Are there any Methodists here?’ ‘Yes,’ came the reply. As Wesley thought on this last answer, he was suddenly transported to the gates of heaven. Once again, he called out: ‘Are there any Roman Catholics here?’ ‘No,’ came the reply. ‘Are there any Presbyterians?’ ‘No,’ was the answer. ‘Any Congregationalists?’ ‘No.’ ‘Are there any Methodists here?’ ‘No,’ came the reply. Puzzled, he asked, ‘Well then, who is here?’ The answer came back, ‘Christians.’ How wonderful that in Heaven, God will wipe away all of the artificial divisions among Christians that the devil has so successfully erected among us! The inability of Christians to get along with each other has been the biggest stumbling block to our testimony. But it is especially sad when those divisions occur within our own Assembly fellowship.
In our text, Paul is referring to divisions that had cropped up among the Christians in the Assembly in Corinth. He was perfectly aware that Corinth was not the first Assembly to encounter divisions. And we are perfectly aware today that Corinth was not the last Assembly to encounter divisions. Just as all the divisions among professing Christendom are the handiwork of the devil, so are the divisions within our Assemblies. In some ways, the divisions within our Assemblies can be even more serious that those outside. We know that our Lord receives greater glory from those who are gathered according to the truths of Scripture. But when those who are so gathered are preoccupied with their divisions, God is robbed of His glory. And that should never be.
What causes divisions among the Lord’s people? It should not be over doctrine concerning Christ, because we are all agreed as to His Person and His Work. It should not be over doctrine concerning Assembly principles, because we have these clearly laid out in Scripture. It should not be over proper behaviour, or sound teaching, or separation from the world or from disorderly Christians. These are all addressed in the Word of God, to which we all profess to submit. No, all divisions among the Lord’s people have their roots in pride. Somebody takes a position that somebody else cannot accept. Somebody feels offended at the actions of another. Somebody feels they have more discernment than the Assembly oversight. Whatever the excuse, the root is always pride, and pride is the greatest of all sins. Sin has no place in God’s Assembly.
Breaking down divisions in God’s Assembly requires repentance. And repentance brings us back into fellowship with our Lord and His people. -Jim MacIntosh