The history of Christian churches over the last two millennia has been plagued with division. What is it that has been so divisive? One example to consider: a schism between what we now know as the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches occurred in 1054 A.D. But the process leading to that division was long and detailed. Among such factors were matters relating to the date of Easter.

F.W. Mattox (The Eternal Kingdom, p. 121) wrote:

The church in Asia Minor wanted to keep Easter at the same time as the Jews observed the Passover…. This made  Easter fall on different days of the week…. The Western church under the leadership of Rome said that Peter and Paul taught them to observe Easter day always on the first day of the week. About the close of the second century, Victor, bishop of Rome, excommunicated the church of Asia because they would not agree with the Western custom in always celebrating Easter on Sunday.

 

Though there are two dates on which Easter is celebrated, this division is based upon matters which are not even Biblical. I strongly affirm the historical reality of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, but the Bible says nothing about an annual commemoration of these events. (The word ‘Easter’ appears in Acts 12:4 in the King James Version of the Bible, but the Greek word used there refers to the Passover.) They have sacrificed unity on the basis of their opinions.

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Churches described as ‘Christian’ recognise (to varying degrees) the significance of the Bible and make regular reference to it. So, what does the Bible have to say in regard to unity (as opposed to division)? The problem-plagued church in the Greek city of Corinth received this message: 

'Now I urge you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.' (1 Corinthians 1:10). 

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The divided Corinthian church led the inspired apostle Paul to describe it as being ‘fleshly’ and immature rather than ‘spiritual’ (1 Corinthians 3:1 – 4.) We should also pay attention to the words addressed to the church in the city of Ephesus:

'There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.' (Ephesians 4:4–6). 

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Note the repetitive ‘one … one … one … one … one … one … one …’. ‘Body’ here refers to the Church (Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18).

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But why place such emphasis upon what the Bible says? As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16, ‘All Scripture is inspired by God.’ The detailed nature of that inspiration is indicated in 2 Corinthians 2:6–13. Jesus promised that His apostles would be guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14–16). The Old and New Testament prophets were similarly guided (Ephesians 3:1–5; 1 Peter 1:10–12; 2 Peter 1:20–21). All this being so, the Bible states repeatedly that we should neither add to it nor subtract from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18–19). This divine certainty is much more solid ground than unconfirmed reports of what Peter told a bishop more than a century earlier!

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Can we believe that the Bible really is inspired by God in all its detail? It is filled with historical, geographical and biographical details which are factual in nature. Even the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, when studied closely, are indicated to be factual rather than mythical. As others have noted: real people; real places; real events.

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In regard to a topic which is of such vital importance, I wish I could say so much more. In a world full of subjectivism, irrationality and religious division, it is so important that we let God guide us through His word, and His word alone. Through it we know that God created the world; God so loved the world that He sent Christ; God will judge the world through Christ; and that God purchased the Church through His own blood. All Scripture comes from God. Is that not reason to look to God and to follow His word?

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We as churches of Christ need to stick to that – just as should everyone else. As has been said before: we should not bind upon others what God has not bound; nor should we loose what God has not loosed. Churches built upon mere opinion are churches destined for division.