Works of the Flesh: Sects (2)

We previously began an examination into the work of the flesh known as "sects" or "heresies" in Galatians 5:19-21, and its application in terms of denominations. We must recognize, however, that this message is not confined merely to those in the denominational world; we ourselves in the Body of the Lord are just as prone to sectarian spirits and heretical doctrines and practices, and we may heed well the warning concerning those people that would bring in such spirits and doctrines and practices in 2 Peter 2:1 quoted above. We see that the acceptance of these types of persons fosters divisions and sects, as seen in the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:19. How, then, are we to avoid ourselves being tempted to have a spirit of hairesis?

The Scriptures teach us that the only way to avoid sectarianism and heresy is to study the Scriptures, obey their principles, and be able to objectively analyze one's beliefs and compare them with the message of the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 6:16-17, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7).

Before we finish our examination of hairesis, sectarianism and heresy, we must respond to many who wish to teach that those who desire to obey the Scriptures are the ones who are sectarian and not the ones who wish to bring innovations within the church of our Lord. The accusation is generally that those who would deny the innovations are "legalists," impugning the "grace of God." Yet we may see in Galatians 1:6-9 that any different Gospel-- no matter who preached it or how, and no matter how little difference it might have with the true Gospel-- is no gospel at all, and in fact is anathema. We can see in Romans 14:16-17 that Paul makes a delineation between issues that are of grave concern and the issues that are of liberty: the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, and the rest is liberty. If a deed or belief is not in accordance with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, and is not contained within or in any way allowed by the Gospel preached in the New Testament, then such a deed or belief is NOT a matter of "interpretation" nor is it impugning the grace of God to reject it outright, but a matter of necessity: such things must be false (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). It is true, however, that if the deed or belief is not necessarily a matter of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, it is a matter of liberty. This concession, however, is not absolute, for the Scriptures do provide guidelines (Romans 14:23, Romans 14:13,15,21).

As long as the one who believes in the liberty recognizes as much and does not attempt to compel or coerce those who do not believe in the liberty to practice it, then such things are of "eating and drinking" and not necessarily of the Kingdom of God. If, however, there is compulsion to perform the practice or leave to find another church or to create another church, then the peace of the Kingdom of God has been disruptive and a sectarian spirit is present. Yet we must ask, according to the Scriptures, the following: what group is most guilty of the sectarian spirit, hairesis? The group compelling another to sin against their consciences, or the group compelled to leave so that they may not sin? This entire difficulty is caused by a complete neglect of the Scriptures and a rejection of Paul's message in Philippians 2:1-4:

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

We may see, therefore, that the sectarian spirit generally rests with those who would compel their brethren to either accept a practice they find no authority for or to find another congregation. This spirit is no more justifiable than the sectarian spirit in denominations, and neither is the "unity-in-diversity" pretense devised to attempt to justify their practices.

We have seen that the term hairesis is truly aimed at the spirit of sectarianism through heresy, the introduction of doctrines not in harmony with the truth of God that leads to division and denominationalism. Let us continually examine the Scriptures and bring our beliefs and practices into harmony with them, with all humility counting one another greater than ourselves and in all ways attempting to facilitate the edification of one another and helping one another avoid sin than to tempt one another to do so, that by all means we shall avoid the condemnation described by Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23:

"Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?'
And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.'"

Ethan R. Longhenry
evangelist@norwalkchurch.org

The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio

Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies!

Our location:

386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits)
Norwalk, Ohio 44857

Our assemblies:

Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am
Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm

Our Bible studies:

Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am
Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm

For More Information

If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist@norwalkchurch.org.

Please click here to return to the 2007 archive of Good News for Norwalk, or click here to return to the main page of Good News for Norwalk. Thanks!