“And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rises up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.” (Mark 3:24-26)
If a kingdom that is divided against itself it cannot be a kingdom, it cannot find its footing, it cannot stand. Why can’t it stand? It cannot stand, for there would be no footing. This is not a reflection on God’s church at all, it is not speaking about God’s people, it is not speaking about the disunity within the body of Christ. This is not talking about factions within the church. This is specifically speaking of Satan and his minions, his fallen angels.
One of the pieces of evidence that this is not referring to the body of Christ who differs in some tertiary issues like mode of baptism, cessationism, continuationism, or which eschatological (end times) position one holds is that God’s kingdom will stand, for God’s kingdom will stand even if we are disobedient and faithless. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) God must be faithful and nothing can prevail against the kingdom of God that has no end.
A house divided against itself cannot stand, because it is divided in the purpose like a tug of war. God’s house, His dwelling place can and must stand, even when His people are rebellious. If Satan should revolt against Satan and is divided, he will not stand and has no end and the church must remember that God uses Satan to His end, for Satan can do nothing without the permission of God.
So, the question is why did this conversation come up? Jesus was accused of being the Beelzebub, the lord of the flies, the prince of devils. Jesus uses this idea of division, not to reflect His church, but to reflect the enemy of God. This passage is not about factions and divisions, this passage is about Jesus setting the record state. Why would the prince of devils usurp the work of the devil? He would not.
Doctrine divides, but not all division is wrong, that denominations have arisen, to take nothing away from God’s church. If one is a cessationist and separates and worships with like believers or if one is a continuationist and separates and worships with like-minded brothers, are either being sinful? The answer is no. The church needs to be about the gospel and not tearing each other up because of a conviction which is not a salvation issue.
At times even disagreements arise that cause division, an example happens in the book of Acts. “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.” (Acts 15:19-40) A sharp contention, over whether or not John Mark should go with Paul and Barnabas arose. Paul and Barnabas split and the gospel went forth in two directions instead of one. Notice how the church responded to this contention, they chose Silas to go with Paul and John Mark went forth with Silas, the church did not force them to travel together, but rather approved of the split.
Divisions can be utterly problematic, the disciples came and were so proud of themselves that they corrected others who were casting out demons, because they were not following with them. They were probably expecting Jesus to say, “well done thou good and faithful servant,” but instead Jesus says, “For he that is not against us is on our part.” (Mark 9:40) Be not so caught up in what you think or that which was right in your own eyes and miss the forest through the trees.
Some divisions cannot be avoided and are necessary for doctrine divides. “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Cor. 11:19) There must be heresies, and there must be divisions. Christ saves and Christ alone, anything that is added to salvation, like speaking in tongues, being circumcised, or following the law, makes salvation not enough but something else is needed.
Are denominations bad? No. Can they be? Sure, but that does not mean there needs to be a wholesale attack on denominations. Paul stated, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified,”(1 Cor. 2:2) ought the church make the same claim? Paul continued, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:4-5) May the church realize that it cannot convince people into the kingdom with many enticing words, fancy arguments, to berating others concerning certain ancillary aspects of personal conviction, but to allow their lives to be the demonstration of the Spirit of power. The church is not to stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
To say that fellow saints have a religious spirit or are directed by devilish doctrines is to attribute faithful brothers with different convictions as they are led by God to the doctrines of demons. This ought not to be, this ought to be avoided, this ought to be rooted out.
Canal Point Baptist Church 