Aren't You Being Divisive When You Critique Other Christians?

 by Tim Chaffey

     I believe the answer to this question is "yes and no."  Let me explain.  First of all, it is always important to define terms when dealing with someone who disagrees.  It is also important to remember that not every person and/or belief critiqued on this site is Christian.  For example, Hugh Schonfeld (author of The Passover Plot) flatly denies being a Christian.  Others, such as John Shelby Spong, while claiming to be a Christian, deny the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and thus disqualify themselves from being Christians.  The other religions that are critiqued (or will be in the future) such as Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. are definitely not Christian.  However, we have critiqued some people who are genuine Christians.

     We live in a world of darkness.  When you shine the light of truth you will be divisive.  That is the nature of truth.  It is narrow and it is divisive.  2 + 2 = 4 and only 4.  It will never be 5 or 6 or anything else but 4 in every place and throughout all time.  The Bible is the same way.  Truth is not determined by one's own interpretation.  While it is true that there are numerous interpretations for just about every biblical passage, there is only one right one.  Our goal must be to arrive at the right interpretation. 

     One should remember Jesus' comments regarding divisiveness in Matthew 10: 34 - 39: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  These words are not popular in the modern church but they are the words of our Lord so they must be heeded.

     There is biblical precedent for critiquing false teachers.  In his letters to Timothy (1 Tim. 1: 20 and 2 Tim. 4: 14) Paul named some false teachers.  These men (Alexander and Hymenaus) will forever be remembered as false teachers because Paul critiqued them.  Don't forget how Jesus handled the Pharisees, either.  He saved His harshest rebukes for them.

     Some believe it is a violation of the principles of Matthew 18 to publicly critique someone.  However, this passage has to do with a personal offense.  If a fellow Christian offends me then I have the obligation to go to him/her and try to reconcile things.  If someone is making false statement publicly then they must be corrected publicly.

     It must also be noted that while we are accused of being divisive the shoe is actually on the other foot (as long as we are biblically accurate).  Those proclaiming false doctrine (even while seeking unity) are the ones who are being divisive.  They divide the church with their false teachings.  Why is it deemed divisive to call Christians back to the authority of the Word of God?  While we desire to see unity among Christians we do not wish for a unity at the expense of truth.  There can only be true unity where there is truth.  By the way, true Christians are already united by the Holy Spirit - we may not always act like it but we are members of one body.

     I would like to conclude this section by asking for your help in this area.  If you see something on this site that you believe to be in error, please contact us and let us know.  Our desire is to faithfully defend the whole counsel of God and we are certainly not above correction.

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