Sectarianism Examined
By Israel Crocker
September 2006
Another idiom among the liberal lingo is Sectarianism. Its usage, as with Legalism, is often misdirected toward brethren who are emphasizing the distinctiveness of the Lord's church; the same brethren who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), and who are alarmed when they see preachers and elders who shy away from the controversial.
To label one as a sectarian can be either true or false based on the context of the person to whom it is being applied. There are ways that people are guilty of the sin of being divisive in religion, and well-intended brethren can make this same mistake. However, the Progressives use this phrase to lead away the ignorant and soothe the conscience of the worldly-minded; even brotherhood history can bear witness to this truth. Christians should beware of the dangers of the sectarian mindset, but at the same time not fall prey to the misapplication of Sectarianism.
Change Agents and Sectarianism
The current movement among progressive circles is dead set on pushing the church of Christ away from the simple, distinct pattern of the Bible, and into the many sects of religious error. This is achieved by removing the marks of doctrinal distinction between the Lord's church and denominations. The trend is better known as inter-denominationalism or ecumenicalism. Religious Pluralism is the philosophical term, with its unconditional acceptance of all religious ideas as trivial matters-except the doctrines relating to the deity of Jesus.
Religious Pluralism is the belief that every religion is true. Each provides a genuine encounter with the Ultimate. One may be better than the others, but all are adequate.1
With their firm convictions in these ideas, Liberals brand any person that contends for specific truth on doctrinal matters as being a sectarian.
Rubel Shelly, who was a "champion" among the Change Agent movement, provides multiple examples. His infamous book I Just want to Be a Christian has the so-called "non-partisan" spirit in mind. The gist of Rubel's book, when read between the lines, is that he does not want to be known as a member of the church of Christ or any other group anymore; instead he just wants to be known as a Christian alone. The problem for Shelly-and anyone else who feels this way-is that it is not left up to his discretion. God determines the locale of His faithful believers, and God's children are only to be found in the church of Christ; that is, because God has placed the only Christians in His church (Acts 2:47, Col. 1:13, Rom. 16:16).
Rubel also sees groups like the Conservative Christian Church and other by- products of the anti-Restoration factions as faithful to Christ.2 He states:
Think, for example, of the groups listed in the Yellow Pages as "Churches of Christ" and "Conservative Christian Churches." These are not the same fellowhips of people. When "we" (i.e., the Churches of Christ) talk about "our schools," "our periodicals," or the attitude of "our brotherhood" toward a certain project, "we" are not talking about "them" (i.e., the Conservative Christian Church). Yet they believe, teach, and obey the same gospel we do. Are they not members of the one church to which God adds all those who believe on Christ, repent of their sins, and submit to baptism in Jesus' name? To deny it is to be guilty of the most indefensible partyism. Because I think "they" are wrong about instrumental music in worship or some other matter does not alter for one moment the fact that they hold membership in the same universal church in which I claim membership.3
Rubel Shelly is an apostate, who once knew the truth, and followed it faithfully; but now in recent years has turned to wallow back in the muck and mire of denominationalism (2 Peter 2:20-22). He places the Lord's church, His bride, on the same plane as the Christian Church. Nevertheless, the Christian Church does not have its birth from the New Testament pattern-it is not the product of the New Testament. Its worship, which contains unauthorized mechanical instruments of music, is nowhere represented in the New Testament. One will not find the "Conservative Christian Church" among the names provided by the Holy Scriptures. The Christian Church originated out of division (between 1859-1906),4 splitting away from the true church when its followers forced the instrument into worship; despite the consciences of those who refused to accept it. Members of the Christian Church spent thousands of dollars in those days on illustrious organs to better "enhance" their worship, instead of seeking to please God (Col. 3:16-17).5 The Christian Church stripped away many of the buildings that had been constructed by members of the church of Christ, by ousting the faithful through overwhelming progressive numbers. The "Conservative" Christian Church has nothing to do with the Lord's kingdom, nor is it conservative according to biblical principles (John 4:23-24).
Shelly is sly when he attempts to say that since they (i.e., members of the Christian Church) obeyed the "same gospel" as we, they too, have been added by God to the saved. He adds that one who refuses to accept members of the Christian Church as being children of God is guilty of the worst form of partyism (i.e., Sectarianism). Just because one goes through the motions of believing the deity of Jesus, "repenting" of sins, confessing Christ, then baptism for the remission of sins, does not mean that the Lord adds that individual to the kingdom. There is more to being converted than giving lip-service to the plan of salvation. One must be converted from the world into the church by understanding the ramifications of what one is doing to become a Christian (c.f., John 6:44-45, Acts 8:12). To become a Christian one must seek to be a member of the church that one reads about in the New Testament; not just a member of another denomination. He must seek out the church that practices true worship, which the Christian Church cannot rightfully claim to practice. The church of the New Testament was not the product of a division caused by rebellion, but was planned, preached, and purchased by the blood of Jesus (Matt. 16:18-19, Acts 20:28).
In summation, God will not accept a denominational baptism of one who refuses to leave denominationalism; he has not repented (Acts 17:30), and true converts know that repentance always precedes scriptural baptism (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 3:19, etc.). Thus, Rubel is wrong to label faithful adherents to Christ's doctrine as a part of "Yellow Pages Churches of Christ," and equally wrong to advocate the Christian Church as a group of God's children. "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matt. 15:13). The true Bible believer knows that it is God who sanctifies or rejects an individual, and to follow God in rejecting denominational sects is not Sectarianism; it is being truthful to Scripture. The church of Christ cannot fellowship denominations by command of the Holy Spirit: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). In addition, God warns:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (2 Cor. 6:14-17)
Kentucky University and John Bowman
Historical examples can also be provided, when even in the 1870s change agents of yesteryear tried to convince brethren not to be so concerned with the benchmarks of truth. A famous example is with Kentucky University. Its roots were planted with congregations of the Lord's church as Bacon College, under the direction of John B. Bowman. Great preachers and educators such as J.W. McGarvey and Moses E. Lard had tremendous influence among the American society for a period of time because of their talents in academia. However, as time passed, the liberal Bowman was interested more in the perception of the university's acceptance among the secular than he was to his fidelity to churches of Christ in Kentucky.6 Congregations in Kentucky had graciously supported the growth of Kentucky University with Bowman's promise to have a Board of Curators that consisted with members of the church. Yet, these colleagues of Bowman's choosing were not interested in adhering to the old paths; they slanted toward "non-partisanship" that was foreign to the Scriptures.
Both Bowman and the Curators claimed they were running a university on "non- sectarian" principles. The brotherhood breathed a sigh of relief. But they were soon to learn that the connotation of "non-sectarian" was not necessarily fixed. Bowman conceived the church of Christ as another sect. Instead of making Kentucky University be sympathetic toward their cause, he would conceive of a school that would serve equally as well with the denominations. For the first time many brethren realized that they were looked upon as a sect. There was a certain ambiguity in the terms that made the real truth difficult to see. To announce to the brotherhood that the school was "non-sectarian" satisfied them for they believed the school was sympathetic to them. But the denominations understood by "non-sectarian," that it advocated the principles of no one religious group.7
In the last sentence of bro. West's comments is captured the very essence of the modern-day liberal definition of Sectarianism. A sectarian, to the progressive mind, is one who advocates one certain group above any other as being superior; and to Liberalism, the church of Christ is no different from the manmade religions of the world. To promote the church of Christ as superior, therefore, is divisive and sinful in their worldly eyes. This gross misunderstanding and outright error is why Liberalism attempts to drag the true church down into the cesspool of Religious Pluralism and mediocrity.
To preach and teach the distinctive doctrine of Christ, as being from God alone, and the only doctrine that God has ordained is not an option for the faithful (2 Tim. 4:2). Simply stated: God said it, and that ends it. The church of Christ did not fabricate itself-it came from the mind of God. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph. 3:10-11). The Lord's church did not make itself superior to denominationalism-God did (Acts 20:28).
Sometimes the faithful in Christ must be divisive when earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 3); and once again, since fellowship with, and toleration of error is not acceptable with God, He will cause the "splitting up" of the faithful from the wicked. It is He is who creates the holy separation. "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division" (Luke 12:51). Bro. H. Leo Boles hits the mark on this verse:
Here Jesus teaches that strife and persecution are to be expected as a consequence of proclaiming the will of God to the people; one should not shrink from the fear of disturbing people by preaching the truth. Christ is the Prince of Peace; but in a sinful world, a righteous king can have and give peace only by destroying error and evil; to do this will bring war; not because Christ and His people have the spirit of strife and war, but because the truth they urge is resisted, and made the occasion for strife, division, and contention by others. The conflict that may be waged among the different advocates of error will often unite in their opposition to the truth. The truth taught by Jesus is opposed to error; there can be no compromise between truth and error.8
A-men brother Boles! Those in error often "set aside" their differences to unite against the proclamation of truth. It is their single hatred for truth that unites their cause; and many times they hide behind the masquerade of pseudo-Sectarianism.
The Sin of Sectarianism
True sectarian practices are condemned by God because of their terrible effects on the body of Christ. When division results because of truth, that is the work of God; but if sects form because of personality conflicts or manmade doctrines, then such is the work of the Devil.
Denominationalism is a tactic of the Devil to keep would be followers of God divided. Sadly, many people are not aware of the sin of division-it is against God's nature to be divided. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20-21). God is not divided and neither are His true followers. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). It is God's truth that saves, not the error of denominationalism. The truth unites and manmade creeds divide-i.e., they promote Sectarianism. The prophet of God said, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). When men try to author their own methods of salvation, the honest person knows the result is more division. This division cannot be avoided since so many persons feel they have a better way or system of reaching salvation. Such is the demise of denominationalism.
One other serious issue of Sectarianism is found within the church of our Lord; following men and lifting them above Christ. Though it does not only apply to preachers, it is sometimes referred to as "preacher-itis." The church at Corinth had this problem:
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1:11-13)
This problem still haunts the Lord's church. Sometimes factions arise within the body of Christ because brethren will set one preacher against another, or they may compare one elder to his colleague. Sadly, even well-intended brethren become involved in this type of division. Christians must be very careful not to place their trust completely in any one person, because even that person can fall away from the Lord. Also, one must consider that not everyone is going to have the same opinion as he does, and one should not expect everyone to feel the way he does about another individual.
This writer has had the personal experience of watching good, sound brethren, who doctrinally speak the same thing (1 Cor. 1:10), not even speak to one another. Some congregations have refused to support another congregation's efforts because they do not like them, or have had some bad feelings in the past. "Brotherhood politics" is sickening and unscriptural. Brethren, if a brother or a sister has a God-fearing heart and walks in the light of God's word (Psalm 119:105, 130), Christians are obligated to lovingly extend the right hand of fellowship to him (1 John 1:7). Too many good potential converts lose interest, or growing Christians become derailed from their faith, because they see children of God fighting over whether this preacher is better than that one; or over what college or school is the best. This form of Sectarianism has Satan rolling in the isles while a lost world continues to go to Hell.
Still, Liberals like Rubel Shelly and his cohorts point to the problems within the church to try to say that the church of Christ is no better than any denomination. They also accuse anyone who stands foursquare for the one doctrine of Christ as mean-spirited sectarians. However, the single doctrine of Christ's church is from the Holy Spirit Himself, and God's truth will cause division; but the division God causes is not a sectarian effort-it is the spiritual sword at God's intended work (Eph. 6:17, Heb 4:12).
End Notes
1. Norman L. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 598.2. Rubel Shelly, I Just Want to Be a Christian (Nashville, TN: 20th Century Christian, 1984), 64.
3. Ibid., 63-64.
4. Earl Irvin west, The Search for the Ancient Order, vol 1 (Germantown, TN: Religious Book Service, 1990), 312.
5. West, The Search for the Ancient Order, vol. 2 (Germantown, TN: Religious Book Service, 1950), 81.
6. Ibid., 115.
7. Ibid., 115-116.
8. H. Leo Boles, The Gospel According to Luke (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Co., 1991), 264.