The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 4)

Continued from my previous post...

It is worth noting Paul’s description of foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments and quarrels as “unprofitable and useless.” They are a waste of time because only the gospel of Jesus Christ can save and sanctify human beings. The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). When Jesus prayed for his people in John 17:17 he prayed that the Father would sanctify them by the truth, which he then specified as the truth which is centered in him. When we get distracted by other “truths” we traffic in the realm of the “unprofitable and useless.” This does not mean that we cannot have opinions about things that are not clearly revealed in scripture – it simply means that we must know what is scripture and what is not, what is speculation and what is bedrock truth, what is personal preference and what is essential and non-negotiable. Today we need to bring Christians together in a shared understanding of larger portions of scripture and not drive them apart with idiosyncratic interpretations, or the status quo maintenance of default theological positions that need to be re-examined and adjusted in light of God’s word.

To be continued...

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 3)

Continued from the previous post...


Today’s silliness would include, but is not restricted to, highly speculative theorizing about the timing of Christ’s return based on minimal biblical evidence. Or attempts to reinterpret the nature of Christ’s second coming and the resurrection of his people based on the notion that these events have already taken place when Jesus came by means of the Roman armies in judgment on Jerusalem in 70 AD. Also troubling are well-intentioned but often misguided attempts of various Christian preachers and teachers and publishing houses to exalt one version of the English Bible above all others as that which brings us closest to the original text. And beyond the  Bible wars I would be remiss if I did not mention the so-called “worship wars” that have divided congregations and spoiled the worship experience. Another controversy that fits into the category of the unprofitable and useless is the ecclesiastical extremism which so emphasizes the autonomy of the local church that cooperation between churches for the purposes of theological education, missions or outreach is deemed unbiblical. And then there are the naive fans of various high profile ministries who try to implement the ministerial theories, models and organizational patterns of their heroes without regard for broader biblical principles and the specific cultural context in which they are living and serving.


Some of the things that divide Christians are just plain unbiblical and should be rejected immediately and it is tragic when these are allowed to fragment the body of Christ. But more often than not we get hung up on matters of emphasis, or in areas of Christian freedom where there is no definitive biblical legislation now that the new age of the Spirit has come. When personal or pragmatic viewpoints in these areas are made tests of faith, fellowship and orthodoxy, or where they are vociferously pursued with a loyalty that should only be reserved for the gospel, nothing but trouble ensues. Fellowships are fractured, churches lose their focus, pride rears its ugly head, and the real work of the gospel is left undone. Perhaps most tragic of all is the fact that when these issues are turned into causes they can keep people busy and give them something to do and talk about, but unfortunately, they are not busy with what should be occupying their time and energy, and inspiring their imaginations.

To be continued next time... stay tuned for more common sense, which as someone has said, is very uncommon!

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 2)

Continued from yesterday's post...

It is important to keep in mind all that precedes Titus 3:9-11 regarding divisive people. These words do not suddenly appear without a context. Paul is working out the demands of the gospel. He is concerned that the churches who bear Christ’s name honor and glorify him. Divisiveness is antithetical to the gospel. It takes away from the gospel message. Beyond the harm done to the feelings of others, it is the reputation of our God and Savior Jesus Christ that is uppermost in Paul’s mind and this accounts for his pointed instructions in these verses. In other words, Paul links his instructions in 3:9-11 to the gospel, and this makes them become far more critical than we might think if our thinking is simply based on how divisiveness is handled in the church where it is often tolerated and excused instead of corrected.

When Paul writes about “foolish controversies” he is not suggesting that all controversies are frivolous. Sometimes we are called to stand and defend the truth. The Bible never advocates peace at all costs. There are certain fundamental gospel truths such as the triune nature of God, the inspiration of the scriptures, the deity of Jesus Christ, the substitutionary nature of his atonement on the cross, the reality of his physical resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven and his return at the end of the age, that we must contend for even though divisions may result. But that is not what Paul is talking about here. He is writing about “foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless.” In Paul’s first century context the kind of debates and teaching he has in mind would involve attempts to force Christians to live as Jews under the tutelage of the Mosaic law covenant. Or they would involve making major issues out of minor, obscure genealogical details that could not be substantiated – details that would lead people away from the foundational teaching of the apostles. While today’s issues are not exactly the same there is still lots of foolish controversy around just as there was in the first century.

To be continued... in the next post we will mention some current examples of "foolish controversies..."

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 1)

Over the next while I am going to sharing an article on Titus 3:9-11 that I originally published in the Gospel Witness magazine earlier this year. I hope it is helpful and contributes to a better understanding of this passage of scripture. KMW


The Problem of Divisiveness – Titus 3:9-11

There are many wonderful themes in Paul’s letter to Titus so why choose to write on the problem of divisiveness? I have chosen this theme because it is a practical problem that all churches must deal with sooner or later and therefore one that we need to consider. In the ideal sense Christian churches are assemblies of God’s people where the grace, mercy and peace of the gospel are experienced and lived out in the lives of the members. But this side of the new heavens and earth the experience is never all that it should be and many times it is shattered and torn apart by the kind of people Paul describes in Titus 3:10 as “divisive” (TNIV), or those who “stir up division” (ESV). It is not only the prevalence of divisiveness that makes discussion necessary but other serious issues swirl around it – issues that have to do with the gospel itself, and the specific, decisive action that needs to be taken by the church whenever it comes face to face with the spiritual darkness of the divisive heart.

In Titus 3:9-11 Paul begins by warning Titus, as a leader in the church, to “avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” Paul’s warning comes at the end of a relatively short letter in which he has given Titus instructions about a number of important things. For instance, Paul has described what church elders should look like (1:5-9), he has counselled Titus about rebellious people full of meaningless talk and deception who must be silenced (1:10-16), and he has given age and gender specific instructions to older and younger men and older and younger women (2:1-8). And, in addition, he has told Christian slaves how to conduct themselves so as to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive (2:9-10).

Paul then anchors his instructions in the saving grace of God that has appeared and that teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (2:11-13). The gospel is not merely some sort of “hell insurance,” it changes people’s lives because Jesus did not come to merely bring forgiveness but to deliver us from our sins and to remake us into his image (2:14). This fundamental theological assertion also becomes the basis for his exhortations in the last section of his letter. In light of these things Titus is to teach and to encourage and to rebuke with all authority and not let anyone despise him (2:15). God’s new covenant people must not live as they once did before they knew the grace of God. They have experienced the washing of rebirth and they have been renewed by the Holy Spirit who has been generously poured out on them through Jesus Christ their Savior (3:1-7). God’s work of grace, in fulfillment of what was promised in the Old Testament, makes a difference in the lives of his people and therefore they have no other option but to devote themselves to doing what is good (3:8).

To be continued...