Recently I met with a senior pastor from another church in the area, and we had a great time of chatting, sharing, laughing, and just “being guys”. Naturally we talked about the incredible work that the Lord is doing through our churches, and the people that we’re seeing who are growing by leaps and bounds as Christians. I’ll tell you that there’s just nothing like reflecting on brothers and sisters in Christ who just go all out for Him! Those are the kinds of folks that inspire the rest of the body!

But we also realized something else that tends to grow pretty quickly in churches: division. (Well… let me clarify that) Words that are going through my head are: exclusivity, allegiance, preference, even  pride. It was actually a little sad to think that a few folks in the church tend to act out those things, and sadder-still that it would be done so openly.

Our discussion about those people was really very compassion-driven; we love them, we minister to them, we want to see them grow in Christ. But such folks often allow their preferences of the flesh to get in the way of their sacrifice in the spirit: If I happen to say the “wrong” thing, or he happens to minister the wrong way, or one of our churches has a ministry that some don’t agree with (or vice-versa: why don’t we have a particular ministry?)… then the ugly stuff starts to happen; the behavior of a few affects so many others.

The Apostle Paul had to deal with the same kind of issue: division being brought on because of the preferences of the people rather than their hearts being focused solely on Jesus. Look at what he says to the Corinthians in 1st Corinthians 3:3-4

“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?”

The danger here is in what I call “church shopping” (others call it “church hopping”): going from place to place until I feel comfortable there. I understand why this is an important part of finding the right fellowship to become involved in–after all, perhaps a church has a need that you are definitely called to fill! Or perhaps the Lord has undoubtedly spoken to your heart about having your family grow within a particular style of ministry.

Personally I’ve found that it’s not the initial “shopping spree” that causes the problem (as long as those Christians are being objective and Spirit-led). It’s the months and years afterward: there’s a little itch, a little tug, a little something that makes people want to move on. The question that must be answered is this: what is the motivation? Why would I now want to move from Pastor Raj’s teaching to Pastor ABC’s teaching? Why do I want to move from Calvary Chapel of Prescott to the ABC Church (or vice-versa)? If Christians can make the transition in a way that honors God–in other words, by biblical standards–then I would always wish them a very sincere, “God bless you, and thank you for being a faithful servant of the Lord.”

Christians are to be united in their purpose as the Lord commanded, Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” But clearly they’re divided in application. God will send you where you need to go when you need to go there, but your objective is always the same as every other Christian’s: be witnesses of Christ.

If you are considering a major transition in your life please be sure to check your motive before the Lord. Christians, always unite. Unite in love, in heart, in mind, in purpose. The glory and honor of Jesus should be at the forefront of everything you say and everything you do! Let’s let our speech and actions bring a smile to God’s face, not a tear.