What does the Bible



What does the Bible say about

contentious, divisive & legalistic brethren

Copyright ©2008 Healthy Faith Ministr

Copyright ©2008 Healthy Faith Ministries

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1. The prerequietitc for biblical separation from brethren who “walk disorderly’ is based on

“withdrawing” from brethren who are busybodies or meddlers. These brethren are biblically

characterized as contentious and divisive. 2 Thess 1:4; 3:6-11

2. Biblical separation is from organized or ingrained heresy or apostasy and from rank evil and

spiritual abuse. Paul never separated from brethren or churches that had fallen into doctrinal

error or moral failures. He admonished them in love to keep the faith. The apostle Paul

identified heresy, carnality and evil to be trait marks of arrogant, divisive, contentious and

legalistic brethren. 1 Corinthians 5:1; 11:16-19; Gal 5:19,20; Titus 3:10-11

3. Divisive, contentious and arrogant believers and churches attempt to divide the body of

Christ through their men made denominational followings, practises and teachings.

1 Corinthians chapters 1-4

4. Christian humility, unity and diversity are the marks of a true church. 1 Corinthians 1:10;

1Corinthians 9:20-22; Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5

5. Loving people involves accepting and associating with them. Matthew 5:44-48

6. We are commanded to avoid issues that generate disputes, strife and divisions. Titus 3:9-11

7. Specific contemporary issues related to general biblical teachings should never be elevated to

the same level as scriptural truth. Revelation 22:18, 19; Col 2:16

8. Personal standards and convictions should never be stereotypically enforced on everyone.

Romans 2:19-23; Col. 2:16; 1Cor.8:2; Gal. 6:3; Romans12:3. 1Ti.6:3-5.

9. No individual person or group has a corner on the truth because it is only the collective church

that is the ground and pillar of the truth. Philippians 3:12, 13 and 1 Timothy 3:15

10. Distinctive group teachings and theological conditionally is equal to the traditions of men. 2

Peter 1:16; Col 2:8; Mark 7:13; Romans 4:14; 1Corinthians 1:17; Gal 3:17; 4:5

11. Contentious and divisive brethren are carnal and babes in Christ and will lose all their

rewards and barely make it into heaven if they know the Lord at all. 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

12. The Bible declares that separated and independent brethren are evil and sensual. Jude10 & 19

13. Christian denominations, fellowships, movements or associations turn cultic when they

become divisive, contentious, elitist and isolated. 1 Corinthians 1-4

14. The more knowledge of truth we acquire is the less humanly certain we should become of

ourselves because we only have partial and vague knowledge of truth. No one has a corner

on the truth and no one has all the answers or has everything together. Claiming to be right

always makes one wrong. 1 Cor 4:5-10; 8:2; 13:12; Phil 3:13; 1 Tim 1:15; Romans 7:18-25

15. The emphasis should be on inward purity and not outward performance. Matthew 23:1-4

16. The main issue which Christian unity is based upon is Christ and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

17. Self-deception leads churches astray when they become self-sufficient, wise and

strong in their own eyes. 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1Corinthians 10:12

18. True Christian love is external in its actions, attitudes and associations. 1 John 3:14-18

19. Jesus said that it was the negative and internal attitudes of the heart that defiled a person

and not external influences or associations. Mark 7:15

20. Abusive brethren fall into two categories. 1. Those that abuse their liberty in Christ by

becoming morally and doctrinally liberal. And 2. Those that abuse the authority of

scripture by either adding (Conservative apostasy) or subtracting (Liberal apostasy)

moral and doctrinal principles and teachings. 1 Corinthians 1-5

21. We deny Christ deity or lordship in 2 ways; by our affirmation against it or by our actions

against it. There is only one Lord and when churches become “Lord’s over God’s

Heritage” they are acting in Christ place as Lord in people’s lives. Eph 4:1-6; 1 Peter 5:3

22. We do not have the scriptural liberty of creating a stereotypical list of human standards or

convictions and forcing biblical principles to support them. Enforcing contemporary and

personal human standards is equal to adding or subtracting from the Scriptures. This is

a heretical and apostate practise. Titus 3:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 6:20, 21; 1 Corinthians

4:5; Gal 4:9-11, 16, 20; 1Timothy 6:3-5; Mark 7:13; Rom 4:14; 1 Cor 1; 17; Gal 3:17; 4:5

Col 2:16

23. It is a heresy to add, denominational distinctives or theology, group persuasions or

practises, exigencies, expositional teachings, apologetics, hermeneutics, eschatology,

scientific or historical evaluations, genealogies, religious traditions, personal standards,

human convictions, contemporary issues and human debates to the same level as Scriptural

truth. 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Revelation 22:18, 19; 2 Peter 1:20

24. Believing the right things with the wrong attitude and actions will blind and bind us from

the truth. Matthew 23:1-4; Gal 6:3

25. Legalist interpret and apply the Bible by the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the

Law. Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6

26. There is a big difference between human sinfulness or heresies and satanic evil or

apostasy. Titus 3:10; Gal 5:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:19; 1 Corinthians 5:1; Romans 7:14-

25; 1 Timothy 1:15

27. Spiritual strength is realized through human weakness. 2 Cor 12:10

28. Spiritual terrorist kill people with their negative words, attitudes and actions. 2 Cor 3:6

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