Splitting a Church or Working Out Your Salvation

by Jim Ruff
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 3, September 1993

It is a serious matter to be a party to "splitting a church." Christ demands unity and peace (I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3). Our salvation is also a serious matter (Matthew 16:26), and we are each responsible for working out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12), as we shall each be judged (Romans 2:6).

When Christians leave a local congregation, we often say they "split the church" and ask what could be so crucial for them to cause the division. But maybe we are asking the wrong questions. Possibly, we should consider whether the departing brethren were working out their own salvation, simply seeking to live and worship in harmony with the word of God. We must each decide whether our children and we can faithfully worship God with a particular congregation. We make that decision every time we pass one "church of Christ" building on our way to worship and study in another.

Before becoming critical of departing brethren, ask yourself, "Can I continue to worship with a local church where..."

1. Unscriptural contentions against faithful teachers are a regular occurrence.
2. Publicly contentious and disorderly members are not disciplined.
3. Scripturally unqualified elders refuse to step down.
4. Elders sometimes deal dishonestly and spread lies about members.
5. Previously faithful members are discouraged by repeated turmoil.
6. Children and teenagers (your own) are turned off to church by hypocritical "so-called" Christians.
7. Members are afraid to bring guests due to frequent disruptions.
8. Unscriptural teaching is permitted in classes or the pulpit.
9. The above matters have been scripturally addressed to individuals and the eldership for several years, but without scriptural action by the elders.
10. Some of the above occur.
11. All of the above occur.

If you answered "No" to any of the above, then you would look for a new local church. Would that make you guilty of sinfully splitting a church? If you answered "Yes" to all of the above, are you sure that you are placing the proper value on the salvation of yourself and your children? "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). How long can your faith survive a weak or unfaithful local congregation? And what about the example your children see?

This is only one hypothetical set of questions we may each face. We might substitute any number of "questionable" practices and decide whether we can remain faithful worshiping with that local church.

While we are busily defending the need for unity, let us not forget what God’s word teaches about:

• The qualifications and responsibilities of elders (I Timothy 3; Titus 1; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Peter 5:1-3).
• Being alert for and rejecting factious and contentious brethren (Romans 16:17; Titus 3:10).
• Being known by our love of the brethren (John 13:35).
• Disciplining unfaithful brethren (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18; I Corinthians 5:11).
• Encouraging and edifying one another (Hebrews 10:23; Romans 14:19).
• The fate of those who cause little ones to stumble (Matthew 18:6).

Unity is not to be accomplished by compromising the truth (Galatians 1:6-7; I Timothy 1:3).

Let us not confuse those who "split the church" with those who merely seek to worship God, in peace and unity and love, according to His word, while teaching their children to know and love God. Let us not confuse those who leave a local church with those who split it. The ones who actually "split the church" are those who fail to love their brethren, especially the word of God, regardless of whether they leave the local congregation.

Let us each be faithful to God, work out our own salvation, and edify our brethren.