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When I was in bible college I first noticed the use of certain labels or tags to categorize and classify groups of individuals within the realm of Christianity. These tags or labels were intended to brand the person in a negative way. One such catch phrase was the ignominious, “LEGALIST.” God only knows how many times we heard the name legalist thrown about. We were warned not to be legalistic. The word of God taught me that a legalist was someone who added the law to grace to attain or maintain salvation. The brand, legalist, however, did not follow the biblical definition. Instead, it was applied to just about anyone who had high standards or who preached practical holiness. Catch phrases like “BALANCED” were also used regularly. For all practical purposes, anyone who preached harder or went soul winning more than these self-proclaimed critics deemed good, was simply, “not balanced” or “didn’t have a balanced ministry.” On the surface no one wants to be a legalist or unbalanced but, by going beyond the surface one can see that what is taking place is the redefining of terms to suit an agenda. Lately I’ve noticed that some of the tired old tags are not being used as much, but the same tactics are still being employed.

One of the new popular catch phrases being used is the phrase “DIVISIVE.” Clearly being divisive when properly understood is wrong and has a very serious connotation. Biblically, someone who sows discord is a proper example of being divisive. Divisive church members should be marked and avoided. Proverbs chapters six says this crowd is an abomination to God. This type of behavior has to be dealt with. Practically though, we need to understand that anyone who rocks the boat or confronts the recognized establishment could be in danger of being called divisive by those who are comfortable with the way things are.

Here in South Carolina I’ve seen this quite a bit. On many occasions cowardly preachers have written off the Trumpet as divisive simply because either the editor or one of the writers took on a subject or an issue that they refused to touch. Here in the bible belt, preachers are systematically warned at the outset of most fellowship meetings to stay positive and encouraging. Anyone guilty of saying something negative could be quickly labeled divisive. Let’s face it, America is becoming Sodom and Gomorrah. Our churches are more worldly than ever, and anyone who preaches anywhere close to our sins is now considered divisive.

Rick Warren, the church growth guru and pastor of the Southern Baptist-affiliated Saddleback Valley Community Church near Los Angeles, California, teaches pastors to use worldly music to draw a crowd and to focus their message on the positive and to avoid controversial and divisive doctrinal issues. Christianity Today called him "America's most influential pastor." While I do not like that assessment, I agree with it. He has taught 300,000 pastors through his church growth seminars and far more through his books and videos. His influence reaches into every sphere than can be called Christianity today, from liberal Protestantism to evangelicalism. Sadly, I must admit that his philosophy and methods are even affecting fundamental Baptist churches. In an interview with USA Today earlier this year, Warren said, "I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. Why be divisive?" That is no different than what I’ve heard at fellowship and camp meetings right here among Independent Baptists.

Mr. Warren has asked the question, “Why be divisive?" Let’s answer it. The reason we need to be divisive is that God has commanded us to preach all of His Word and to "reprove, rebuke, exhort" (2 Tim. 4:2). The emphasis in II Timothy 4 is as much negative as it is positive. God has commanded us not only to believe sound doctrine but also to earnestly contend for it (Jude 3). That means we are to fight aggressively against that which is false. Paul often named the false doctrine as well as the false teachers. Such a ministry naturally causes divisions between those who are committed to the truth and those who are following error. Rick Warren and all the like will give an account at the judgment seat of Christ for promoting their unscriptural "positive-only, avoid divisiveness" emphasis. My heart breaks over the damage that is being caused by this methodology. This philosophy destroyed Israel of old and it will destroy every church that goes down the same road.

Our day is described plainly in Bible prophecy: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I thank God for men in the Bible like Elijah and Micaiah and John the Baptist. I thank God for men in our recent past like Lester Roloff, J. Frank Norris, and Harold Sightler. All these men were attacked and called divisive by their contemporaries. Thank God they didn’t change or get intimidated by the liberals and compromisers of their day. 1.5

Pastor Steven E. Mays – Trumpet Editor
BroMays@FaithBaptistTrumpet.org