Schisms

by Zeke Flores

No one likes torn or broken things.

The word "schism" is a transliteration from the Greek “schisma”, which describes a tear in a garment or a crack in a stone. A torn garment is useless; it fails to accomplish its purpose of covering the body. A cracked stone endangers the whole structure that rests upon it.

Paul writes that no member of the body should behave in such a way as to divide and render the whole body useless. The way to avoid such schism is for the members of the body to help one another, since they are capable of recognizing each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another" (I Corinthians 12:24-25).