The Church Split

Last updated on: July 1, 2020 at 6:35 pm by C. Don Jones

The Church Split 2020-07-01T18:35:12-06:00 C. Don Jones

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Something did not happen in 2020. The United Methodist Church did not split. It wasn’t for lack of trying. COVID-19 brought with it social distancing, travel bans, and concerns about infection rates. The very idea that something more important than deciding which group will get to call itself a new denomination or how congregations will affiliate was not in the minds of the leaders from all sides. Insurance liability jargon considers a pandemic “an act of God.” It appears strange to me that the will of God appeared to involve a denominational split in the name of peace. Obviously, we were wrong about that.

Blaming God

I have noticed one important aspect about church splits. There is nothing but human posturing and negotiation involved. And then God is ultimately blamed. Now, for the life of me, I don’t understand how that happens. I watched in despair as General Conference 2019 tore everyone apart. Then one by one “amicable” division plans came along deciding how the assets would be divided. All that remains is for the delegates to decide.

God gets the blame though. We are never responsible. One side shouts about “biblical authority.” Another group demands that a “prophetic word” for justice be heeded. One side links the authority of the Bible directly to God the Holy Spirit. Another believes their stand for inclusion is guided by the same Holy Spirit. I am truly amazed by the arrogance of ignorance.

A Missionary Split

“After some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord.” (Acts 15:36-40)

Split By Pettiness

Chapter 15 in Acts shows the Church coming together to decide a major issue concerning Christian behavior and practice. The question was simple. Should non-Jewish believers in Christ be compelled to accept all of the custom and practices of the Law of Moses? St. Peter speaks to the assembly first. He tells how Gentile believers were given the Holy Spirit and their hearts were cleansed without the traditional Jewish observances.

The next speakers are none other that Paul and Barnabas. The Spirit of God performed signs and wonders confirming their ministry to the Gentiles. Back up and read that again. Barnabas and Paul together persuaded the church leaders at the council. They then took the ruling of the council to Antioch where the trouble began.

What happened after that? Paul rejects John Mark. Barnabas gets angry about it and goes home to Cyprus. Paul makes his tour of the mission churches.

Church leaders know exactly what happened. There was a triumph, a win, and then ego inflation. Tell me this. Who was right in the argument between Barnabas and Paul?

Personal Observations

I did not start out as a United Methodist. I already possessed a degree in Biblical Studies and had some experience in ministry before I showed up on the doorstep, so to speak. Then I watched from afar my home church divide. I saw my Sunday School teachers refuse to speak to one another. The leaders whom I was taught to respect did not respect each other. They called each other “unfaithful” and “liars.” It was all about the ego’s of these people. But it was dressed up to be about the issue of “biblical authority” and “merciful inclusion.”

The biblical issue was what did Jesus mean when he said that a man who divorces his wife and marries another woman, excepting for the cause of marital infidelity, commits adultery. Was spousal adultery the only biblical grounds for divorce? What happens if the “guilty party” remarries? And what about spousal abuse? The historical context involves an argument between the Rabbis Shammai and Hillel and their schools of thought. Hillel taught that divorce may be granted on almost any grounds. Shammai argued adultery was the only cause. It was one disagreement among many. Both scholars are honored today. What was the big deal?

What Are Christian Institutions For?

Churches are not ends or goal in themselves. All Paul and Barnabas gained by their dispute was the ability to harm each other. They are not a scriptural justification for separation. Church leaders who lead congregational or denominational splits fail. We only accomplish harm. We have already been doing that. Church leaders should never want to create a new institution so that we will be more comfortable in our circumstances. Don’t blame God for it.

Previous Post

June 29, 2020

A New Ministry

Next Post

July 6, 2020 They Are Not Wanted

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Afghanistan Anxiety Ascension Sunday Baptism Barack Obama Biblical Interpretation Bigotry Book Banning BSA Buddhism Choice Christmas Church Discipline Community Conscience Conspiracy theories COVID-19 Culture Wars death cults deconstruction Devotional Divine Judgment Donald Trump Earth Day Election Day empathy Environmentalism Evangelism Exploitation of the Poor Faith False Claims fascism Fear Forgiveness Genocide government Grace Gun Violence Halloween Hate Health Hillbilly Elegy Hindu Holy Communion Holy Week Homelessness Hope Identity Integrity Islam Joe Biden John Hagee Kamala Harris Labor Lent Liberation Theology Lies Love Love as action Neurological disorders Non-Christian Religions Online Worship Original Goodness Pandemic Peace Pentecost Philosophy Preaching Progressive Christianity Racism Redemptive Violence Myth Resentment Saint's Days Satire Sobriety social media Spiritual Self Care Spirituality Technology The Kingdom of God The United Methodist Church Theology Transfigurations Sunday Transgender persons Truth Uncategorized Violence Wesleyan Working Class

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 October 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 February 2018 January 2018 August 2017 May 2017 November 2016 July 2016 June 2016 November 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 February 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian denomination is known for emphasizing predestination?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lutheranism Calvinism Methodism Catholicism