The Urgent Necessity to Create Good, Biblical Division

We often get charged with creating "division" or "dividing." We don’t deny it. It is precisely the point — we are dividing truth from error, the true from the false, the good from the evil, the righteous from the unrighteous, but this is obviously not what they mean when they bring that accusation. There is a blurring and a blending occurring in our apostate day, but there is a desperate need for some clear divisions, and that is what we are trying to help create. Loving the truth and hating every false way does not create bad, sinful division, but good, Biblical division. We are all about creating good and godly division, but abhor unBiblical, bad division.

Nevertheless, neo-evangelicals, reformed calvinists, many baptists, and of course all the cults and other harlots of the great whore of Christendom (Rev 17:1-5) hate doctrinal and biblical divisions, since these divisions go against them and their snowflake feelings, and their belly-serving agendas (Rom 16:18; Phil 3:18-19). This does go in conjunction with their spite for reproving, rebuking, contending, fighting, warning, exposing, separating, and anything else that comes with any sort of conflict or cost. They hate it because they have never judged themselves to be the wicked sinners that they are, never feared God, and never genuinely repented — thus never been born again. This is true for most of them. Thats the actual cause and origin of the hatred for true Biblical Christianity. And then they have their masters and mentors, wicked wolves in sheep's clothing such as "church" growth guru Rick Warren, to further their misunderstanding over these Biblical matters. Back in 2003 in an interview with USA Today (July 21st issue), Warren stated, “I’m not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won’t try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?” The "non-essentials" philosophy is heresy, the "I won't try to change other denominations" philosophy is not only heresy, but reflective of a wolf in sheep's clothing, as is his hatred towards the right kind of "divisive[ness]" or division, right kind in the juxtaposition. The Warren's and Warren followers, and vast majority of the rest of Christendom can be described to precision in 2 Tim 4:3-4, a generation of itching ears that it will not hear the preaching of truth of God’s Word that plainly rebukes its sins and heresies, and forthrightly condemns its heresies; but it eagerly hears or reads — yea, flocks in droves to hear and read — those soft-speaking, non-offensive, positive-only, non-divisive teachers that are willing to tickle their ears with fables:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Is creating division, what we would refer to a good and Biblical division, wrong? There are two types of division presented in the Bible: good division and bad division. The latter, bad division, is factiousness, heresy, false doctrine or practice, and Rom 16:17-18, 2 Th 3:6-15, Ti 3:10-11, amongst other passages, speak to it. 1 Cor 1:10 teaches one mind and one judgment in the local church (there is no such thing as a "universal church"), and though people have to be able to grow, practical sanctification, going against that one mind and one judgment by promoting false doctrine or practice, error, or sin, will cause a bad division that shouldn't happen. This is not good, Biblical division, but bad division that leads to disunity.

Division is either from the truth or for the truth. If you have an established truth and someone corrupts it, that’s heresy. It's division, from the truth. Bad division in other words. When the truth goes into the minority number, it's still the truth. False doctrine or practice creates division, bad division. The Bible mostly uses division in that manner; not truth causing division amongst a people, but false teachings and false believers creating bad division. Not necessarily always doctrinally, but mostly.

Thus, while there is a division that is bad (e.g. Pr. 6, divisions created by false teachers-Rom 16:17) there is also a good division, one that is commanded and the fruit of true conversion. This must always be clarified when preaching against bad division--which unfortunately rarely occurs--lest people get the wrong idea that all division is bad, which contradicts scripture and Christ Himself (e.g. Lk. 12:51-53; 1 Cor 11:18-19; Rom. 16:17; Ju. 1:3-16; 2 Th. 3:6; 2 Jn. 1:9-11; 3 Jn. 1:9-11; Rev 2 & 3).

Creating some godly divisions within the last churches that represent Bible-believing churches (such as the Independent Baptists), is exactly what we are trying to do. Drawing clear Biblical lines in principle, in our associations and being consistent with those lines is one of the greatest needs among true Bible believing churches if we are going to maintain the truth for the next generation.

This will result in conflict and controversy, but is creating conflict always wrong? No. Many times throughout the gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ intentionally healed the lame or sick on the Sabbath, and in the Temple, before all the unregenerate religious leaders and children of Israel (e.g., Lk 6, 11, 12, 13), for the purpose of exposing their sin and error, and most importantly, unregeneracy. Christ knew this would create great conflict and controversy; He knew exactly how they would respond. This was sword work of the Lord, who came to bring division, not peace (Lk 12:51-53; Matt 10:34-36).

The Bible Teaches a Good Division

The division that is good, which is not how the word is typically referenced by man-centred men, is the type of division that Christ said He came to bring (Lk 12:51), dividing the truly saved from the unbelievers and false "believers" (Lk 12:51-53), dividing truth from bad doctrine with a sword. Thus truth creates good division (e.g. Ac. 15:1-2)—i.e. those who preach the truth will be divided from those who preach error (Eph. 5:11).

John the Baptist was separated firstly by steel bars, and then from his head for preaching against the adulterous sin of king Herod, attempting to bring a good division between him and his unlawful "wife" (Mk 6:14-29).

The truth will always create divisions (e.g., Ac. 15:1-2). Those who preach the truth will be divided from those who preach error. Those who love righteousness will be divided from those who love sin. We are commanded to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Ju 1:3). Contention will causes divisions. Christ created much conflict to divide the false from the true (Lk 6; 12; 13; etc).

The Lord Jesus caused division everywhere He went (see Jn. 7:43; 9:16; 10:19) even intentionally creating conflict (see Lk. 13:10-17 and Matt. 23) because He came not to bring peace but a sword (Matt. 10:34), not peace (between a true believer and a false one, the meaning and context) but division: “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: . . . "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. ” (Lk. 12:51; Matt 10:34). Division by true born again believers from the false "believer," exemplified by division in families, stated by the Lord Jesus Christ:

"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." (Lk 12:51-53)

In Matthews parallel account, the Lord describes the division as a sword,

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." (Matt 10:34-36)

Christ said that He came to bring division (Matt 10:34-36; Lk. 12:51-53), and He practiced what He preached, frequently causing conflict and division in His preaching. Dividing those interested in the truth (sinners, publicans, prostitutes) and those that were not (Pharisees, scribes) and were imposters, dividing the saved from the unsaved, dividing true disciples from false disciples, etc. When Jesus preached, conflict came with people, which led to division. When you deal with the flesh, there is going to be division that takes place.

If you’re going for unity, Paul says division must happen. Paul said the reason there is division among you, is because there must be division among you (1 Cor 11:19), because of sin, error and heresies. That’s what Paul says there.

"For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."  (1 Cor 11:18-19)

Paul says the reason why there "must be" divisions (“heresies,” same word used interchangeably) among you “that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Cor 11:18-19). “Must be” means necessary. Why? God is approving certain people and making them manifest to you. When problems arise or factions arise or error and sin is confronted, you will discover who the ones of the truth are, who the good trees are and who are the corrupt trees (Matt 7:15-20). The gold comes out of the fire purified. By confronting error and sin, you are not only obeying the Bible but also helping to weed out those that aren’t actually of the truth. This is one of God's methods of purging out the old leaven.

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Tim 2:20-21)

Paul describes these divisions as “heresies” (1 Cor 11:19), which are obviously bad (from the truth), but result in a good division (for the truth), with less heretics in the fellowship. The word “hairesis" translated as "heresies" applies to all divisions, whether caused by the truth or by error. The same Greek word is often translated “sect” and was used by the Jews to describe the early Christians (Ac. 24:5; 28:22). When the word is used to describe heresies within the churches (2 Pet. 2:1; 1 Cor. 11:18) it refers to a self-willed choice of some false teaching that subsequently causes error and creates ungodly division. Heresy is dividing from true doctrine. The heretic is someone who causes division, and the biblical idea is that he is causing divisions off of the already established, divine truth. So someone is a heretic, who divides from true, historic doctrine. True doctrine is historic. If a doctrine has been established as a doctrine from the Bible and history, the one with the new doctrine must be the heretic. In the first epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 11:18-19), it was bad heresy. Peter refers to damnable heresies of false teachers (2 Pet. 2:1) who divide from those that are of the way of truth (2 Pet 2:2-3). Since separation is loving, someone must reprove the "heretic" and warn him, so that he will know how he is diverting off the path of historic, biblical doctrine. 

In the short but powerful epistle of Jude, born again believers are commanded to earnestly contend for the faith, which creates conflict, contention and division:

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation [meaning corrupted or profane “salvation”], it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

We are commanded to earnestly contend (meaning to argue and dispute earnestly; to reprove sharply; to chide and strive to convince and reclaim; to strive against and in opposition; to quarrel and to dispute fiercely, to wrangle) for the faith once delivered unto the saints (Ju. 1:3); therefore contention can and will cause division, buts a Biblical division. Of the kind we see Paul creating in 1 Th. 2:9, “we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.” He said “with much contention” (“agon” is also translated into “conflict” and “fight” and “race”, e.g. “fight the good fight of faith”, “let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” “I have fought a good fight” — 1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 12:1; 2 Tim. 4:7). The Thessalonians were saved through and in the midst of much conflict created by Paul, "with much contention.” They "received the word in much affliction," (1 Th. 1:6; cf. Ac. 17:1-5; 1 Th. 2:1-16). Contention and division is good when its for the truth (again, Paul illustrated this on many a occasion, throughout Acts 9 to 28), seen throughout Scripture, both OT and NT. The preaching of the old prophets during the OT, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, etc, resulted in massive amounts of conflict and division.

The man born blind (Jn 19) is a good example, who had no issues with speaking the truth, and being separated, or divided, from the ungodly and religious heretics who governed the temple, even though that would have cost him everything, earthly wise.

Eph 5:11 demands division from those committed to error and false doctrine, or sin, which are unfruitful works of darkness:

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

1 Cor 15:33 exhorts division:

“Be not deceived: evil communications [meaning associations] corrupt good manners”

We help with creating the Biblical division by exposing error and false teachers.

Am 3:3 demands division or you will be considered in the same light as those you walk with, fellowship with, and even receive instructions from (literature, music, etc):

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

The Cause of Bad Division

1. A primary and rampant source is unconverted people feigning faith and playing church, some of which are in leadership positions (cf. Ac 20:29-30). This is major unpurged leaven which is rapidly destroying local assemblies.

2. A second reason, unsound doctrine. People are carried about by all winds of doctrine, by strange and diverse doctrines (Eph 4:14; Heb 13:9). They will read or listen to anyone who claims to be a Christian without genuine spiritual discernment. They cannot “discern between the unclean and clean.” (Ezk 44:23). The Scriptures put these as unsaved, e.g. Ezk 44:23; 1 Cor 2:14-16; etc, so this reason resorts back to the primary reason.

3. Three, it requires biblical and doctrinal clarity, knowing and embracing sound doctrine, which takes preparation, study, and effort, and people aren't sure about many things in the Bible, they have doubts, which on its own is again very concerning, lending itself to a similar conclusion as above.

4. Four, false and unsound doctrine, which is taught by false teachers. Those that teach and propagate bad and ungodly division are false teachers (Rom 16:17-18; Phil 3:18-19).

5. Five, maligning the one bringing and contending for the truth. Today, because of all the bad division brought about by heresies and unregeneracy, it’s easier to just malign and slander the trumpet blower, the one pursuing truth. They wouldn't even attempt to debate the issues, but rather ignore, malign and slander. The Bible says they do this because they don't actually care for the truth or care for anyone besides their own belly (Rom 16:17-18). They are watching out for numero uno. At least we show love to the wolves and heretics in showing them the errors of their false ways (Pr. 27:6; 2 Tim. 2:24-25), and then also love to those influenced by them in showing them the error of their ways in embracing, or promoting or maybe even harbouring false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing and the destruction that will befall them (Gal. 5:9; Ac. 20:28-31). There charges of destruction and divisiveness for speaking the truth is just a self-serving, kind of Pharisaism. It reminds us of some type of Roman Catholic inquisition. The inquisitor shouts: “Divisive!” (“Heresy!”). It’s good they don't get to burn one at the stake in North America (yet).

6. Six, fake unity. Churches change the definition of unity in order to keep more people and also stay together on lesser terms. The toleration of false doctrine and practice becomes the new standard. Deep compromise will surely bring massive division and factions down the road, reaping what they’ve sown. Actually, this touches something very controversial that others wouldn't want to touch, because it exposes disobedience to God's Word prevalent everywhere and unconverted people. A false unity creates a false peace based on false doctrines, told by false teachers, that are followed by false converts. There is only one teaching in scripture, but churches allow for more than one teaching on doctrines and practices. If you don't do that, now you are considered to be violating some definition of love, which is closer to toleration. All of this feeds into the fake unity, which is actually a bad division.

Good, Biblical Division is Demanded for True Biblical Unity

Unity in churches has been perverted in definition to allow for tolerance of false doctrine and practice. Unity has become getting along, despite differences. This is not the unity in scripture. They had the same doctrine and practice and not just “major doctrines.” The standard was scripture, everything God said.

With this new unity, the false one, the better person, the elevated person, is the person who tolerates the most error. He sees something wrong, does nothing about it or worst, embraces it. Not disagreeing or agreeing to disagree is the highest value in the false new way. This is not biblical unity, but it is what men are left with, and it has become accepted in churches. I understand that not everyone will agree on everything all the time. However, that is the standard, and anything less should be rejected.

Where the Bible doesn’t speak, which is very few things (such as matters of food and keeping of holy days) either explicitly or implicitly, there is liberty. Discord shouldn’t come from areas where someone has liberty. Liberty issues are non-scriptural issues. Music, clothing, fashion, Bible versions, holy living, doctrine, family, marriage, the home, relationships, etc, are not issues of liberty! The doubtful disputations (Rom 14:1) are concerning issues that the Bible is silent about, or has at least judged to be a liberty issue, like the dietary examples given in Rom 14 and 1 Cor 8. So-called "unity" today is often guided by giving liberty to believe and practice differently within the same assembly. Men are doing that by making doctrinal and practical issues now issues of liberty for the sake of getting along.

Scripture is very clear on what unity is, real unity as opposed to the fake. Fake unity poses as unity, but isn't. Fake unity is actually bad division, division from the truth. Most often, people who say they want unity, actually want fake unity, which isn't unity at all. They reject true unity, while calling for it. People, who either plot for or settle for fake unity, don't actually want unity. They want some type of credit for unity without even having it. God requires unity. His Word says it is to occur and can occur in each individual true church. It is total, complete unity, described several times in the NT, and based upon the truth.

Biblical unity is oneness, the same type of unity that God the Father has with His Son and the Holy Spirit (Jn 17:11, 21). These three are one in nature or essence, but also one in purpose (Jn 10:30). The unity God expects or requires is to be found in a church, and the following verses describe it: Rom 12:6; 15:6; 1 Cor 1:10; 12:25-26; Ac 2:42, 45; 4:31-32; Eph 4:1-16; Phil 1:27; 2:1-4; 3:15-19; 4:1-2; Heb 6:12; 1 Pet 3:8-9. Unity is to “speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor 1:10).

Where God speaks, there needs to be same mind. The Bible itself is plain. It can be understood, even by children. Acceptance of anything less than the truth is not in accordance with God. He is the standard. Not only has He told us what He wants to believe and do, practical as it is in all areas of life, but He’s given us the grace and strength to do it. This is the sanctification that Jesus prayed for in John 17. The unity that Jesus spoke of in John 17 is not fake unity. Jesus Himself was the perfect example by always submitting to the Father and then praying for us to be sanctified in the same way (Jn 17:17).

Paul speaks of this many times, such as Rom 15:14,

“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”

Believing and speaking “the same thing” means one doctrine, sound doctrine, which is contrary to the “unity in diversity” philosophy that is promoted today. The foundation of true biblical unity is the new birth and then continuing in sound doctrine. True Christian unity is experienced when born again believers of a local assembly are committed together to the same biblical faith, same sound doctrine. The passages listed above describe this as believing the same thing, holding to the same sound doctrine, interpreting the same Scriptures (all have the same Bible, the KJV for English folks) with the same Biblical methodology, have the same spiritual convictions, the same scriptural goals, speaking the same language and judgment, having the same mind and mouth, being of one accord and standing fast in one Spirit. This is how God describes true Biblical unity in the local church, and it's what He requires for true unity.

Paul wrote to Timothy that this unity was "no other doctrine." 1 Tim 1:3 says,

”As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine."

This is not the unity that most churches expect, even though it is the only unity in scripture. It is what is expected and required of churches, but people look for something else, which is in essence, agreeing to disagree. The scriptural unity could be called as we term it today, unanimity. Since there is one doctrine and practice in the Bible and scripture is perspicuous, plain and understandable (Pr 8:8-9; 14:6; 22:21; 1 Jn 2:20-21), then we should expect unity.

True love and unity speaks out against error and false teachings and separates from it and those are that are advancing the false doctrine, but today it’s called being “divisive” or “sowing discord.” Fake unity is overlooking differences in doctrine and practice, which amounts to overlooking false doctrine and sin, in order to get along. Rather than someone saying he doesn't believe and practice biblical unity, he replaces it with fake unity and then says he is practicing unity. Worse yet, because of fake unity being considered or called real unity, the ones who believe and practice biblical unity are portrayed as the purveyors of division, bad division.

The NT talks about diversity in the body, but that is diversity of spiritual gifts or giftedness. There will be variation in gifts in a church, but not variation in doctrine and practice. There is one doctrine and one practice, like we read in Eph 4:3-6:

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

A church should expect this as unity. Variation isn't unity. It is division, bad and unBiblical division. What sometimes people call unity is actually division, ungodly division and not unity.

True unity is also called no unbiblical division brought about by error, false doctrine or false practice:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Rom 16:17)

"That there should be no schism in the body." (1 Cor 12:25)

False doctrine and false interpretation of Scripture (which then produces false doctrine) brings division. The person opposing, exposing and contending against false doctrine is not the one causing division; the division is caused by the one who believes, embraces, and propagates false doctrine and perverts the text of Scripture. Because fake unity is considered or called real unity, many times the accusation of division is completely reversed. The one who believes and practices biblical unity is the one that is portrayed as the purveyor of division.

Fake unity is overlooking differences in doctrine and practice, which amounts to overlooking false doctrine and sin, in order to get along. Rather than someone saying he doesn't believe and practice biblical unity, he replaces it with fake unity and then says he is practicing unity. The ones believing and practicing true unity are portrayed as the purveyors of division.

To believe and practice true unity as described in Scripture (Rom 12:6; 15:6; 1 Cor 1:10; 12:25-26; Ac 2:42, 45; 4:31-32; Eph 4:1-16; Phil 1:27; 2:1-4; 3:15-19; 4:1-2; Heb 6:12; 1 Pet 3:8-9) sometimes even requires a split. A split doesn't sound like unity, but to get to unity, often a split must take place. Some think the split is worse than not having unity, so they put up with false doctrine and practice.

A church that accepts something less than biblical unity isn't obeying scripture, because scripture teaches it. If you are going to get unity, you've got to want unity. You can't settle for the fake. Unity comes from purity, so the desire for unity starts with purity. That requires true Biblical conversions, followed by true believers baptism which is immersion, and then obedience to all the counsel of God’s Word. In that is includes a true local church with church membership and closed communion of the members. Not having church according to the Word of God  is disobedience to scripture. A church should have Biblical closed communion at communion with members of the local body (which is the church in Scripture) who are born again, immersed, united by sound doctrine and walking in truth. The church isn't a big tent that accepts many diverse beliefs and practices. It is a very narrow tent that accepts only what God says in His Word. And tha requires good, biblical division.

Conclusion

There is a lot of blurring and blending today, compromise and tolerance. So there is a desperate need for some clear divisions, and that is what we are trying to help create through our reports, articles, work, evangelism, and so forth. For those who say 20/20 Editors are divisive, we would say, "Well done, you got the message." Creating some godly divisions is exactly what we are trying to do. Drawing clear biblical lines as to who is saved and who is not is critical, and then from that outflows many other elements of clear division, such as ones association and sound doctrine and biblical living, and being consistent with those lines is one of the greatest needs among true Bible believing churches if we’re going to maintain the truth for the next generation.

God wants separation from false doctrine and sinful practice and from hypocrites. If there was ever a time for division, this would be the day, especially among the Independent Baptists, the last churches in this great age of apostasy to stand for the truth, among whom are of the only bastions of light in our dark world, but yet shamefully tolerate to many heresies, and harbour too many heretics and false teachers. Evangelical churches and reformed churches and the rest of the protestant world are heretical and almost completely apostate. They are heretical, ungodly, worldly, adulterous vessels of unfruitful works of darkness, and they must all be divided, separated, from, without any doubt. They carry the name "Church" and "Christian" but they are neither. But right here we are talking about those that retain some truth yet in our day of apostasy, which is the independent baptists, which are a pretty sorry mixed multitude overall, with many pastorates run by false teachers as well, while retaining some of the Biblical traditions of old. Majority of them are of the revivalists/keswick flavour, and are corrupt salvation and sanctification wise. Majority would not be considered pillars and ground of the truth NT churches by the Baptists of old (even just going back to the 19th century), and nor do we. They don't stand for anything, most are moving rapidly toward a neo-evangelical position, most entertaining contemporary music and frightfully shallow in Biblical knowledge. They have little to no discernment about true salvations and evidence thereof, or baptism and church membership. Most are largely uneducated in the major issues facing God’s people today. Most are are soft-separatist at best. Many, including pastors, are more sports minded than Bible minded. These churches know little to nothing about true pilgrim Christianity. They are not building strong Christian families that can raise up a godly seed. In these churches, a young person genuinely born again and thus surrendered to Jesus Christ is either a rarity or non-existent. In a great many of them, the youth are largely gone. Typically the men are not the spiritual heads of the homes and the women are not keepers of the home. Most of them wouldn't warn and name names if their life depended upon it; they absolutely abhor warnings; and will passionately criticize and malign those that do. The words “earnestly contend for the faith” might as well be a foreign language. A pastor in these churches that is a warrior for the truth of God’s Word, is extremely rare. These churches are lukewarm at best (Rev 3:14-18), and lukewarm is unsaved, unregenerate, and then completely blind to it (practically ALL the other churches in the evangelical/reformed/protestant world are entirely Laodicean lukewarm).

We are dividing the sound from the unsound, the clean from the unclean. We are talking about true biblical division and separation, which we expound here: The Biblical Doctrine of Separation and Unscriptural Forms of Separation. We are not talking about some sort of carnal division. We are talking about good, biblical division, and that glorifies God.

Bad division is from the truth. Someone who separates over the truth wants unity, and is creating good, Biblical division. You can’t have unity without the truth or without Biblical division. You protect the truth by separating, i.e., more division. Compromised truth-compromised unity, compromised separation-compromised truth.

Many godly men over the centuries since the days of the apostles have made divisions among Christians because of the truth and have been charged with divisiveness, but they were not wrong and their actions do not fall under the condemnation of Rom 16:17. John Tombes is one of a multitude of men who have made divisions by his stand against infant baptism, for example. Tombes was a minister in a church in England in the 17th century, but when he began preaching and writing against infant baptism, he was dismissed from his pulpit and charged with being a man of a “restless spirit” and with creating divisions and confusion (Joseph Ivimey, A History of the English Baptists, vol. i, p. 183). Was Tombes doing an evil thing by causing division because of his stand for scriptural baptism? By no means; he was obeying Ju 1:3 to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints.

Again, many godly men from the days of the apostles have made divisions among Christians because of the truth and have been charged with divisiveness. We are happy to be put in their class, for we are indeed in the company of great men; great men like the Apostle Paul and the Greatest Man, the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Men that stood uncompromisingly for the truth of the Word of God and who, as a result, caused division and trouble.

And he did that while yet lost! If it were the case that divisiveness in this sense was bad, it would be criticising the Apostle Paul himself—yea, even the Lord Jesus Christ! (Which is precisely what you did concerning Paul in Ac. 9). The Lord Jesus caused division everywhere He was going (e.g. Jn. 7:43; 9:16; 10:19) even intentionally creating conflict (read Lk. 13:10-17 & Matt. 23) because He came not to bring peace but a sword (Matt. 10:34), “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:” (Lk. 12:51-53). God wants separation from false doctrine and sinful practice, and from heretics and those committed to error, sin or worldliness. If there was ever a time for division, this would be the day, especially for those of you that are among the independent baptists, among whom are of the last bastions of light in our dark world, but shamefully harbour too many heretics and heresies. So we are happy to create division, but the right kind of Biblical division, purging out the chaff while gathering up the wheat, and when Christ returns, He will "burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matt 3:12).

For the truth and the kingdom of God's sake, for future generations, endeavour for purity and godliness, for a congregation of only truly redeemed saints of God walking in the truth and bearing the evidence of salvation, fully committed to godliness and holiness, and cease not to:

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim 4:2)