“I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.” - 1 Corinthians 11:18-19
Usually, when you hear about division in the church, the connotation is negative. Even Paul, in this same letter to the church in Corinth, says that some follow after Paul, others after Apollos, and still others after Jesus. He asks them if Jesus, Himself, is divided, and the natural answer is “no!” The division Paul speaks out against here is not the same division Paul is speaking of in chapter 11. Unless, of course, we believe Paul would intentionally contradict himself.
In the case that Paul isn’t being contradictory, we must then look at the context of what Paul is discussing when he states that “there have to be differences among you”. Note, Paul uses the term “differences” in tandem with “divisions” in verse 18. Paul had previously rebuked the Corinthians for their division, yet here he is reassuring them that some divisions are necessary. He then gives the answer as to why the divisions are necessary when he says, “to show which of you have God’s approval”. There are two potential ways to understand what he means by God’s approval. It could be that he is drawing the line between those who are saved and those who are not, or those who are mature and tested versus those who are not.
With the news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination last week, the church and the United States at large have been processing the value of disagreement. Charlie’s legacy is one that shows dialoguing with people you disagree with is right and proper. He has shown that there is a way in which people can hold completely different opinions and still attempt to find a middle ground. America has held to the right of free speech under the impression that good, logical, and reasonable dialogue is the best defense against bad, illogical, and harmful dialogue. Many have also made the case that any time either side attempts to silence their opponent through intimidation or coercion it only creates fervor for the silenced view. In other words, let the best argument win!
This, I believe, is at the core of the point the Apostle Paul is making in his letter to the Corinthian church. If I were to paraphrase Paul, I would say “let the best argument win, for the mature believer to be proved”. God has built this type of thing into the church for the sanctification of the body of believers. Division in the church is a check-and-balance for the growth and maturity of the body as a whole. It is baked-in to the DNA of the human experience for a purpose. If a church does not allow for questions or disagreements in policy, liturgy, or doctrine, the church does not and cannot grow. This is one of the complaints that many “Deconstructionists” have made toward their church experiences. They have said that they had questions or objections, and the church either couldn’t answer them or told them to sit down and be quiet.
It’s a feature, not a bug.
Having differences of views within the church body is not something to be rid of. The church as a whole does a disservice to itself when it fails to follow the scriptural example of, “come, let us reason together” (Is 1:18). We fail to build up our spiritual muscles through discipline when we try to sharpen iron with clay (Prov 27:17). We cling to bad ideas when we are forced to follow one man’s opinions, “Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right” (Is 43:26). We remain children in the faith, subject to milk when we refuse to grow through challenging dialogue, “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” (1 Cor 13:11).
Not only is it good to have differences within the church, but if we refuse to entertain challenging views, we are refusing to allow the Lord to grow and mature us into becoming what He wants us to be. We stifle the growth of those whom we are called to teach and disciple. God loves His church so much that He brings along those who hammer away at our imperfections through challenge. It is good to reason with others, because this is the process God has given for our sanctification, and helps us to be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (1 Peter 3:15).