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Architecture Of A Church Split
Posted by Chris Johnson in Baptist Life, Church & Missions
Even though the very thought of “church split” is an oxymoron …somehow the architecture of it’s fracturing is very consistent. So…what seems to be consistent about every church split? I must say,…that after forty some years as part of Christ’s church, the elements that come together to form a church split seem very obvious to me now. At a young age it was rather confusing to understand why one family would want to move away from or alienate from another family. But, when you are young, you think like a child….and sometimes that can be very confusing and hurtful in the life of a church.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
The immature church speaks, thinks, and reasons like a child. A church split is evidence of wrong speaking, wrong thinking, and limited reasoning, which ultimately leads to an abundant lack of love for the church, and a skewed view of obedience to our Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. (2) I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, (3) for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
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The Initial Design Within the Architecture: Childlike Speech
A church that speaks like a child is eager for a split. It is a fact that most churches, from past experience and being trapped in a carnal mindset, will naturally and eventually support a split from their Christian brothers and sisters…some sooner, some later. The SBC is a prime example of this fact and statistic. Baptist tend to call splits some type of mission work as they go down the street and build another building. But, for the most part …..most mature believers are not easily fooled. Because in most cases the speech is no different than the natural man…in fact; the speaking and methodology associated with a splitter’s speech more closely resembles the world …and not the Kingdom of God. There is hope though, for when a church knowingly flees their tendency for natural speech and methodology, they will begin to move toward love and certainly will abandon the idea of a split. Why? Because….
1 John 4:4-7 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (5) They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. (6) We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (7) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
So you can be sure,…. If a church is eager and committed to the speech patterns and methodology of the world, that church will split…demonstrating a rebellion in obedience to the Spirit while abandoning the pursuit of Unity.
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Childlike Speech Leads to Childlike Thinking
When an immature church thinks about splitting,… it is not typically concerned about doctrine, in most cases it is more anxious about protecting tradition and family preferences. Jealousy, strife, backbiting, infighting, and distrust mark out the territorial satisfaction in the sandbox, when tradition and preference suffocate the life blood of the church….. The apostle Paul made an important point to those in Ephesus on how to avoid strife among those that Christ has called out of this world and to his side.
Ephesians 4:1-7 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, (2) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, (3) being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (7) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
You must understand that children avoid being prisoners at all costs. And churches that think like children walk unworthily while maintaining resistance to the idea of being a prisoner of Christ; moreover children tend to believe that the position of freedom is populated with “rights” and “liberties”, instead of “humility” and “gentleness”. A child likes to bite their way out of a difficult situation, because that is their natural tendency. So does the immature church …they would rather bite than submit ….they would rather secure their right to vote than to discover the Unity where the church is “whole” (Acts 15:22)….where somehow they have been trained to believe that a majority overrides the work of the Spirit in Unity and Love. But, that’s how it is with an immature church; easily mislead and trained to think like a child.
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Children Reason Independently, Loudly, and Abruptly
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, (6) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Ah the sweet musings of a maturing church ….a low level of jealousy …not a lot of bragging going on, just a tinge of arrogance, yet not overbearing. The maturing church acts rightly without seeking its own… with little need for provocation, even as a boot has been seen squarely placed in the middle of the back of a sweet brother or sister and twisted back and forth a few times. Even when that happens, there is no need for rejoicing or getting too worked up about the episode, but rather there is a push to rejoice with the truth. Infinite truth given so graciously by a Savior that met with more than a mere boot in the back, or whiny gossip session from house to house. And like their Lord,… a maturing church knows that kind of love has never failed….so to act in Love seems almost normal and they are willing to endure.
Yikes …but on the other hand… a church of whining children more often work independently or in small factions. Seeking whom they are willing to capture for their own desires,… or seeking out weaker targets to alienate for their own pleasure. And children are not so subtle in many cases, where “meetings” can turn into shouting matches and loud eruptions. And it is the intensity of such meetings that tend to echo their importance and ultimate success of the children at play. Some churches expect this banter and some of the highest church attendance is seen when these children come out to play; resembling pay-per-view martial arts beatings loved and witnessed by so many these days. Of course when the competition is over, everyone gets up, all bloody and bruised, and embraces in handshakes and hugs…. much like those pretending their unity within the church.
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How to Abandon the Doomed Architecture of Church Splits
1 Peter 4:8-11 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (9) Be hospitable to one another without complaint. (10) As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Romans 5:3-9 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. (8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Hebrews 11:1-6 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (2) For by it the men of old gained approval. (3) By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (4) By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. (5) By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. (6) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Blessings,
Chris
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Regarding your first point, I wonder how much different church planting would like if done by design rather than by dispute. I also wonder if there would be as much time for the dispute if we were busy with the work. IMO, the mission brings unity as we strive together rather than against each other.
Love the pic.
Chris,
“Back in the day” Dan Reiland wrote an article that I’d seen adapted to the corporate environment. This was back in the mid 90′s when I saw it. I can’t find any links to the original article online, but have this version of it that might add some light to what you said here:
The Catalysts Behind Unhealthy Organizations
Unhealthy organizations are almost always connected to issues of leadership, relationship, and vision – not policy and procedures. Poor policy and procedures can add to an all ready unhealthy
organization’s problems, but good leadership, relationships, and vision would quickly correct these.
Organizations tend to mask the real issues and start quoting policy, but when you look under the covers it’s always about things such as: the direction of the organization, how the organization is being run, and, if you really want the underbelly of it all, who is upset with who. In smaller organizations, it’s often about power and who’s in charge. In larger organizations, it’s often about money and how it should be spent, or the long-range direction for the future.
If the primary leadership is weak and the direction of the organization is unclear, pressure will begin to build. In fairness to those who may be seen as troublemakers (and maybe they are), if
there is a void in leadership someone will step up into the gap. Bank on it. And that someone may have different views about “how we should run this place.” The stronger the surrounding leaders, the faster the pressure will build. If the organization is in a comfort zone, and perhaps in a plateau, this pressure can be sustained for quite some time. But if there is any life in the general organizational leadership, the pressure will soon build to a point where something is going to crack. The organization may not open up and swallow people whole, but trouble is brewing.
Relationships that have soured and gone south are the next largest cause of organizational splits (and not wholly disconnected from the leadership/vision issue). Conflict is a normal part of
organizational life, but unresolved conflict is not healthy. Leaders cause motion and motion causes friction. Friction that causes the organization to move forward is healthy. Unresolved friction turns to conflict and unresolved conflict will begin to produce organizational-splitting pressure. In many scenarios, this never reaches earthquake status. This more commonly plays itself out in unhappy people leaving just a few at a time. But don’t fool yourself. What is the difference if 150 people leave over the course of 18 months or all at once? One is a slow leak and the other is headline news, but both stories leave you with 150 less people and emotional turmoil.
In the case of the slow leak, the problem continues, underground, while the pressure builds. Eventually, enough people will leave to cause a financial crisis (although it’s not the real issue) and then something may be done. In the more dramatic scenario, the chaos is greater but the solution comes sooner.
Organizations will always have problems. There is no such thing as a perfect problem-free organization if it has more than one person in it. So don’t become paranoid and see a “split a-comin’” every week. But do keep your leadership antennas up and discerning about unhealthy and/or prolonged problems.
Preventing an Unhealthy Organization
There are a number of ways to help prevent an unhealthy organization from developing. Here are four preventative measures.
1. Clear vision.
The vision/mission of the organization must be clear and deeply embedded into the fabric of organization.
2. Strong and healthy leadership.
There is a difference between a strong leader and a bully. Strong leaders are centered and balanced and can be tough-minded when necessary; bullies just want their way.
3. Unity.
Unity comes from a shared sense of community and a shared journey. This is obviously connected to the vision, but in a real sense, this is where the people buy into the vision at a grassroots level. It’s one thing for the leader(s) to cast the vision, it’s another thing for the people to embrace it together at a heart level.
4. Solid relationships.
Grace and forgiveness. These two components are the backbone of solid organizational relationships. You can add honesty, trust and acceptance into the mix. These five relational components will serve you and your organization well.
The greatest proactive measure to prevent an organizational split
God never intended for any living thing to continue to grow forever. First, we have no record in all of history of any organization that never stopped growing. It’s a law of nature. Nothing was designed to grow forever. Think about this. There is no tree on this planet that never stopped growing. If that weren’t true, we’d have trees that are miles high. There is no person who, in all his or her life, continually grew larger! (Although some basketball players may make you wonder!) There are no animals that never stopped growing. Perpetual growth was not what God had in mind.
Reproduction, however, is what God had in mind for all living things. Whether it is an oak tree, or a human being, or an elephant, they were all designed to reproduce their own kind. An organization is a living organism and no different in design.
The point is not to put some kind of lid on your organizational growth, but instead focus on multiplying your leadership. The most common form of multiplication is organizational planting, (placing strong and healthy leaders in leadership positions) and I still think it’s one of the best ways. But there are others, from the newest experiments in satellite-linked organizations, to teaching organizations, to coaching and mentoring a struggling organization and helping a turnaround take place.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to be a large organization to begin. It’s amazing what you can do in these scenarios. People who may be seen as a problem in your organization
can become pioneers of new and fresh works.
Adapted from Dr. Dan Reiland’s article, about Church Splits, to parallel unhealthy organizations.
Christ said in Matthew 16:18, “..I will build My church..” and I cannot get away from that as the premise for the organized church. No matter how the leadership is set up, if the result of any church organization does not leave the impression that Christ has built that church it would be best that it split in a 1000 pieces.
Brother Rastis,
No doubt my friend. Somehow folks these days get a false satisfaction of running down the street and errecting a nice new building. What a sham!
You are right to say…planting is working with the gospel,…and when people are speaking the gospel in love,…they are not biting and spitting at each other like children.
I too like the pic…. the little scowl is so indicative of how many people seem to approach their brothers and sisters in Christ when they are wronged.
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Rick…thank you for the article… and I certainly would love to see many businesses adopt the corrections brought out by the article.
Good leadership, relationships, and vision bring life to the church when maintained by the Spirit and not by the natural tendency of man. Leadership must be in the plural so that men will oversee the church as expected by God. Relationships must be governed by the gifting that is given by the Spirit…. and vision is borne out of maturity in the Word and doctrinal clarity.
Good word my friend,
Chris
Brother Bruce,
You are certainly correct that Christ is the only builder of the church.
It appears these days though, that many people don’t like the church that Christ builds and tend to pick and choose the ones that fit into their huddles or cultures. The Apostle Paul was more about getting the evil out of the church,…and not removing those that did’nt quite understand every gist of doctrine or were a little rougher around the edges. Unfortunately today…the church doesn’t know how to confront sin,…but they are much more articulate at confronting preferences. A little later in the Matthew passage that you mentioned, Jesus gives the way to rid evil, and love our brothers and sisters….His principles are not often followed in the SBC.
The Apostle Paul put it this way…..
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler–not even to eat with such a one. (12) For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? (13) But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
Blessings,
Chris
Chris,
A timely message and a positive encouragement. One question: Wouldn’t childlike thinking lead to childlike speech, not the other way around?
Brother Andrew,
Actually the progression that the Apostle gives us….with the order of speech, thinking, and reasoning is very instructive. Children, whether three or ninety three will speak first and then thinking may follow. For instance, a small child will just start mimicking or blabbing,….this is not too unlike the church,…where instead of thinking and then speaking, they speak and rarely get to the thinking stage, and rarely visit the reasoning stage.
So, we are taught to be “slow to speak”…why, because the Spirit would have us think and then respond according to the revealed truth (Word) as we speak…both of which result in effective reasoning.
The activities associated with church splits do follow the actions of a child….to the tee.
Blessings,
Chris
I guess I was thinking of the “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” pasage.
I am tempted to make an analogy to the fissure in the Southern Baptist Convention and the Tea Party, Jane Mecom and Jill Lepore but my heart is not in it.
I have my idea who the children were in the SBC in 1979 and most of you have a different opinion.
So for the time being, in the Spirit of the Holidays I will take a pass. Good many of you could predict what I would say anyway and who I would name as the children so we’ll move on.
Heard a fascinating story at lunch today. May focus on that and or move to another topic.
First want to congratulate SBCImpact for the New Look. I have to give you credit; it’s pretty snazzy, great look.
I was gonna comment on Inerrancy as it flashed up on the Homepage as one of the most participated on comment threads in History of the Impact, but I think at 755 the conversation was closed.
New year starts where the old ended with Al Mohler making waves in his Creation endorsement blog. I spoke pretty strongly at the ABPnews.com story.
As for church splits, Gaston Association in North Carolina seems to be the latest test case. Opinions are pretty strong on the matter in wake of the ouster of the editor of the Biblical Recorder and upheaval there.
Maybe more later; just wanted to say hello this new year and congratulate you on the new look