Why Does Division Happen So Easily in Churches?
Church people will divide over almost anything – the color of lights, carpet choices, music styles, coffee flavors, or even whether to have a greeting time during service. These seemingly trivial matters become major sources of conflict because they tap into our natural tendency toward selfishness.
Every division we experience typically comes down to one word: selfishness. When we prioritize our own comfort, preferences, and desires above others, we create the perfect conditions for conflict. We become like the wide receiver who famously said, “I love me some me” – and that attitude destroys unity.
What Does Biblical Unity Look Like?
Paul, writing from a Roman prison, tells the Philippians that his joy would be complete if they remained unified. Despite his terrible circumstances, what mattered most to him was that the church stayed “of one mind” and rooted in Christ.
This wasn’t theoretical for Paul. He had experienced painful division firsthand when he and Barnabas separated over whether to bring John Mark on their missionary journey. Paul understood the pain that division brings, and he desperately wanted to spare the Philippians from that same experience.
How Does Humility Lead to Unity?
Unity comes through humility, and humility comes from following Jesus’ example. Paul calls believers to have “lowliness of mind” – not meaning we should think we’re stupid, but that we should lower our high-minded tendency to always be right.
Instead of being concerned about winning arguments, we should focus on serving others and putting them above ourselves. This means looking out not only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others.
What Is Jesus’ Ultimate Example of Humility?
The incarnation represents the ultimate example of humility in all of history. Jesus, who was equal with God, emptied Himself of heaven’s glory to become human. He didn’t cling to His divine rights or recognition but took on the form of a servant.
This would be like a human becoming an ant and crawling in the dirt – that’s the level of condescension Jesus demonstrated. He willingly submitted to the Father’s will, took on human flesh, and ultimately died on a cross – an ancient criminal’s torture device.
Does Humility Make Us Weak?
Surprisingly, humility actually elevates us. Because of Jesus’ incredible humility, He now has the name above every name. At His name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
Scripture consistently teaches that humility leads to elevation:
- God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble
- Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up
- Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth, honor, and life
- Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted
When we choose humility over selfishness in real situations, things work out better for everyone involved. There’s more peace in our homes, relationships, and communities.
What Does Healthy Self-Care Look Like?
Humility doesn’t mean never thinking of yourself. The key phrase is “not only” – look out not only for your own interests, but also for others’ interests. You need to care for yourself sometimes, but the question is whether your “not onlys” are outweighing your “but alsos.”
As C.S. Lewis wisely said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” True humility means thinking of yourself less frequently while thinking of others more often.
How Can We Protect Unity in Our Churches?
Unity is precious and must be guarded carefully. When God is doing great work – people being saved, baptized, and served – division becomes the enemy of that progress. Satan would love nothing more than to use trivial matters to divide and destroy what God is building.
We must guard against division with humility, lock arms together, and move forward united in Christ’s mission. This means becoming very good at “God’s math” – adding to His kingdom, multiplying His influence, subtracting our negativity and selfishness, and eliminating division.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to practice thinking of yourself less and others more. When you face situations where you could choose selfishness or humility, take a deep breath and choose to serve rather than demand your own way. Look for opportunities to put others’ interests alongside your own interests.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Are there seeds of division in my heart that I need to confess to God?
- Am I looking for things to go wrong, or do I rejoice when I see God’s good work happening?
- Is there selfishness in me that’s leading to division in my relationships?
- How can I better balance caring for myself while also caring for others?
Remember, unity doesn’t happen accidentally – it requires intentional humility modeled after Jesus Christ, who gave up everything to serve and save us.
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