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Defending the Church: How to Recognize Divisive People and What to Do About Them

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Nearly everyone has experienced division. We personally learn the effects of such even in high school. When a classmate on a random day decides on a whim to negatively regard a fellow student, he or she might gossip about a person, and try to poison the well, for example, in making such a person seem unappealing or unreputable in whatever issue is being discussed. Poisoning the well is the idea that before person B even gets a chance to examine certain information on his or her own, person A seeks to distort person B’s understanding by pointing out things that might either be true or false in order for person B to immediately have the perspective that person A has. For instance, I have recently been called an anti-Mormon, which is a textbook example of poisoning the well. What this does is when a Mormon calls another person anti-Mormon, he is using this derogatory label to warn other Mormons, and possibly other seekers, that the supposed anti-Mormon is dangerous and, in a sense, dividing them from me. This is just an example of what poisoning the well looks like, which unfortunately doesn’t only take place outside the body of Christ. What can help the body of Christ to remain or become united is being able to recognize those who cause division and doing something about it. 

Recognizing Divisive People

 

Paul tells his readers in Titus 3:9-11, 

 

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” 

 

The above passage is how we recognize divisive people, and also how we are to handle situations that we find ourselves in with people who claim to be Christians yet are divisive. First, we are to “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” I think that a key word here is the word, foolish. The idea is that there are discussions about the Law that are not foolish. So, we must know when these conversations become foolish. When we see that the conversation has turned hostile, abusive, accusing, contains harassment, or such matters, this is how we know that something went wrong in our discussion, and is no longer profitable. This is also a key word. If no one is benefitting from the conversation, then why is it taking place? Paul says that it is worthless. When a conversation is unprofitable and worthless, this is when it becomes foolish. If the theological conversation is not building one another up, then it is likely divisive. 

Division is one manner in which Satan prowls around like a roaring lion. He is the deceiver, but why does he deceive? The answer is that he does so in order to further separate people from God. Think about the events that took place early in the Garden of Eden for a moment. The serpent deceived Adam and Eve in order to divide the relationship between God and man. This was his goal. From this, we can see the kind of character that Satan has through such actions. In Revelation 12:7-17, the reader can see that Satan’s anger and motivation for such comes from his position being removed: “…There was no longer any place for them in heaven.”[1] So he sets out to deceive, divide, and dispatch.[2]

Division in the body is not usually something that happens overnight. It seems that some level of trust is involved with the divisive person, otherwise a divisive person would be easily dismissed by the united body. Many things begin the act of division. Gossip is perhaps one of the beginning causes of division, along with having an accusatory or an abrasive demeanor, putting words in people’s mouths (which is assuming that someone meant one thing, but he actually meant something different), and envy also divides people. Trapping people also begins (or even fuels) the act of division. This behavior is exemplified by Pharisees and Sadducees. Here is a short list of verses where the Pharisees and/or Sadducees tried to trap Jesus:

 

Matthew 16:1 “The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.”

Matthew 19:3 “Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?”

Matthew 22:15 “Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.”

Mark 8:11 “The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.”

Mark 10:2 “Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.”

Mark 12:13 “Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement.”

Luke 11:54 “…Plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say.”

Luke 20:20 “So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.”

John 8:6 “They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.”


We can see the examples put forth by the Pharisees and Sadducees and how this tears people apart. These things, gossiping, accusing, putting words in people’s mouths, poisoning the well, setting traps, and harassment, ultimately lead to, or fuel division, and so the question rises, how do we first handle the conversation with someone who is dividing a body of believers when we go to them to warn them? What should our warning look like? 2 Corinthians 10:5 gives us the right idea on how our behavior should be, along with Matthew chapter 7. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” When someone is leading to, or causing division in the body of Christ, when we confront them, we seek to destroy the arguments presented, not the person. Once we engage reckless emotion into a discussion, it no longer becomes fruitful. Instead, we should gently point out the ad hominems, Red Herrings, Strawmans, poisoned wells, and other logical fallacies in order to direct someone back to the real heart of the issue. Practically speaking, it is good to think and pray through this with a set of notes in front of you. 

Another good guideline that goes with the idea for knowing what to do in such a situation as mentioned above, is found in Matthew chapter 7. Jesus says, “Do not cast your pearls before swine or give what is holy to the dogs.” Judgment about such is a requirement. When we are in the first step of warning a person, and it seems like they are just not getting it, and when you find yourself talking at someone and he is talking at you, rather than speaking with him, then maybe it is time to pull the plug on the conversation and allow room to process. The New Testament is filled with the theme of unity,[3] and when our conversations turn into talking at people like we are dogs barking, the conversation likely gave up the ghost. Yes, the conversation needs to happen, but it doesn’t need to be ugly. Make the warning known, and move on so the information can be processed.

Two Senses of Division 

I must also briefly say in our discussion of division, that division in one sense is not a bad thing, such as in excommunication, as I have discussed here. The fact that Paul tells his readers in our Titus passage to “have nothing more to do with them” in the third step of dealing with a divisive person, shows us that there are two directions of division. One, that when we are in a united body of Christ, that we should not seek to divide it, because this is obviously an extremely serious offense. Second, when the divisive person won’t stop, we remove them, and in a sense are splitting ourselves from them, or we divide ourselves from them. So, there are two parts to division, one is bad, and one is good. The bad part divides a united body, the good part divides the wolf from the flock. The first part is what this article focuses on, because this is the part that Paul is focused on in Titus.

What to Do About Divisive People

 Pay careful attention to the serious consequences of divisive people in our Titus passage. “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…” Paul sees and understands the seriousness of division, and what it can do to a united body. It is an infection that will ultimately kill the body. In the Revelation, in the Letters to the Seven Churches, Jesus tells those in Sardis that they are dead because false teaching was taking place and no one ever did anything about it, so this false teaching took over and is what killed the church in Sardis.[4] The middle three churches in the Letters to the Churches in Revelation progress from bad to worse, and worse in this case is dead. 

Just like the issue of false teaching, division is also infectious. Paul tells us to warn them once, so that they understand that they are getting a warning, then warn them again, and if they continue to be divisive, then have nothing to do with them. An interesting comparison to this is that this process is to be one step less than what Matthew 18 speaks of concerning a sin against a brother. From this understanding, it seems safe to believe that a sin against a brother is less serious than a divisive person. In Matthew 18, the steps to handle a brother who has sinned against you is that you first go to him privately. Second, if nothing changes, you take two or three witnesses with you. Third, after that, if you still have not won your brother over, take the matter publicly before the body of Christ. Fourth and finally, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Yet, in concerning division, there are only three steps. The parameters are tighter for divisive people.

In any event, as brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s strive to be united and live in peace.[5] Begin this new way of thinking with common ground. Renew Relationships, build trust, and build rapport. Love one another. The following is a short list of Bible verses that discuss the theme of unity in the Bible. It is a great place to start in order to see a part of the heart of God. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Philippians 2:2 “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Colossians 3:14 “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Psalm 133:1 “A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”

Romans 12:4-5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

Romans 12:16 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”

Romans 15:6 “That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…”

Acts 4:32 “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”

Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

Romans 15:5 “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus…”

Ephesians 4:13 “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”

John 17:23 “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

 

 

 © Nace Howell, 2022 


[1] Revelation 12:8.

[2] See John 8:44.

[3] See Ephesians chapter 4 for an example, as well as other texts included in this article.

[4] See Revelation 3:1.

[5] See Romans 12:18.

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