1st Corinthians 12:22, 23 and 25, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. ... That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
There is a commonly perverted view of this Scripture passage, which is being
used by some apostate pastors today to justify the evils of ecumenism and
bidding Godspeed to false prophets. This is an important subject, so
important that God committed an entire chapter of the Bible to address it.
The apostle Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says
that although there are MANY members to the Body of Christ, there is ONLY
ONE HOLY SPIRIT working in all.
Paul repeatedly reminds us that “it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1st Corinthians 12:6). The first thirteen verses of 1st Corinthians chapter 12 establishes this important ground truth, that is, that regardless of one's function in the Body of Christ, we all have the very SELF SAME Holy Spirit of God working in and though us. To properly interpret the rest of the passage, we must understand this vital truth. ....
1st Corinthians 12:1-13, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
The apostle Paul has laid his foundation in verses 1-13, establishing the truth that despite having MANY members in the Body of Christ, there is only ONE Holy Spirit working in and through us all. So now Paul continues in verses 14-31 to explain the importance of each member of Christ's Body (i.e. the Church), especially the most seemingly insignificant member. ...
1st Corinthians 12:14-31, “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”
Paul says that he is shewing us “a more excellent” (vs. 31) way to think and do things in the churches. Instead of bickering and fighting, we ought to esteem each other as being better than ourselves and recognizing one another's gifts from God. Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” There were numerous ongoing serious problems at the church of Corinth—one of the biggest issues being a sinful spirit of division amongst the church members. They were a house divided. There was internal fighting. They were forming personal cliques (little groups separate from the rest of the church). ...
1st Corinthians 1:10-15, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.”
You see, they were carnal believers, doing the work of God with the arm of human flesh, instead of with the power of the Holy Spirit. James 3:16, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” The Word of God says that the believers at Corinth were sinfully “envying” each other. This explains why they were suing each other in court (1st Corinthians 6:1-8). They were a house divided, but not over a dangerous false doctrine creeping in; such as, Galatianism (aka, Calvinism), or the satanic Alexandrian-based modern Bible revisions creeping in (these things need to be exposed and divided over). The Corinthians were envious of one another, literally behaving like little babies (“babes in Christ,” 1st Corinthians 3:1)...
1st Corinthians 3:1-3, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
A Horrible Misinterpretation of “Schisms” in the Churches
1st
Corinthians 12:25, “That
there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have
the same care one for another.” The
word “schism” is mentioned only once in the Bible. It comes from the Greek
word schisma meaning “a split or gap.” Hence, a schism is: “a
division of a group into opposing factions.” But we must “rightly divide”
the word of truth here. 2nd Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.” Let me now share with
you a horribly wrong interpretation that a wicked pastor tried to sell me.
I recall an occasion where I was teaching a fellow Christian brother at a Baptist church that I was attending, what was wrong with the modern Alexandrian-based Bible perversions. This was after the Sunday night service, in front of the church. The pastor overheard our conversation, and he also remembered a few prior conversations of mine with other church members on the very same topic (i.e., exposing corrupt Bible versions). He rebuked me, saying, “You're obsessed with this Bible issue debate!” He then told me that he doesn't want “schisms” in his church. Sadly, off the top of my head I thought of two places I know of in the United States where you cannot tell the truth: 1) At the 1999 Seattle World Trade Organization meeting (the city imposed a 50-block strict “No Protest Zone”), and 2) In lukewarm independent Baptist churches!!! What is this, communist North Korea? What a shameful pastor, who doesn't want the truth against the damned modern versions taught in his church!!!
So you'll understand why me and this pastor got into a conflict, you need to understand that although he claims to be King James Bible only, he also claims publicly that he was saved from a New International Version (NIV). Folks, the NIV is corruptible seed. 1st Peter 1:23 says that a true believer is born-again from “incorruptible seed,” by the Word of God. I believe that anyone who thinks they were saved from an Alexandrian Bible perversion, somewhere along the way was first influenced by a King James Bible. The reason why is because if you never saw a King James Bible, then you would be misled by Romans 10:9 in the NIV to think you must follow Jesus as “Lord” of your life to be saved, which is not the Gospel. You don't get saved by living the Christian life. You don't get saved by partial faith in Christ, plus living the Christian life. You don't get saved by faith, and then have to prove that you are really saved by living the Christian life (which is the heresy of Calvinism). Calvinism is a works-based plan of salvation which cannot produce the new birth. You must 100% submit to God's righteousness, which is by faith alone in the Good news of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, buried and bodily resurrected the third day, plus NOTHING to be saved!!!!!!!
So I did a Bible study on the subject, because I knew that the aforementioned pastor was misinterpreting and misapplying the Scriptures to fit his agenda, and he sure is! Folks, the Bible instructs us as believers to tell the truth! If telling the truth that Satan is behind these modern Bible versions offends you, then so be it! If a pastor (who is supposed to be a man of God who hates evil), becomes offended at someone who exposes error and evil, then that pastor ought to get right with God. The truth is that the pastor of that church is not preaching THE TRUTH as he ought, and so he doesn't want me teaching it either to other believers in his church. Granted, that is his right to set policy in his church, but I am not guilty of causing a “schism” in the Body of Christ by telling THE TRUTH!!! What he was really saying is that he doesn't want me causing people to dislike other churches, who uses the Alexandrian Bible versions, by teaching something that
That pastor misinterpreted and misapplied a Scripture passage, in a lame attempt to tell me not to teach his people. He could have simply told me not to do so, as a gentleman, instead of wrongly trying to use the Scriptures against me. But I get it. I am ethical which is why I never went back to that compromised church again. They need a better pastor. I wasn't trying to show up the pastor, God knows my heart. I wasn't trying to go against him. You see, the pastor claims to be King James Bible only, but at the same time tells everyone that he was saved out of a New International Version (NIV). Folks, then he is NOT King James Bible only! How can he be? Sadly, that bad pastor bids Godspeed to other local Baptist church that teach Calvinism and use the Devil's Bible versions.
Now I am telling you plainly that a “schism” in the Bible has nothing to do with church divisions caused by contending for the Christian faith. That pastor misapplied the Scriptures to condemn me wrongfully. I was doing something good, telling a Christian brother to avoid the Devil's fake Bible versions, and that foolish pastor stopped me! The pastor on Guam is a graduate of Dr. Ron Comfort's Ambassador Bible College. I'm not impressed and neither is God. Good night folks, that is what we are supposed to do, that is, “EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS” (Jude 1:3).
Again, a “schism” in the Bible has nothing to do with church divisions caused by contending for the Christian faith. I'll prove it to you by cross-referencing what we've examined so far in this article with 1st Corinthians 14:26, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” This passage explains 1st Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
So, “schism” here refers to division caused by having cliques in the church, by sinfully becoming a respecter of persons. Notice that Paul says, “when ye come together.” Everybody had their own thing going, and it was confusing. 1st Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” If we examine the entire epistle of 1st Corinthians, and not just lift the word “schism” out of the passage in 1st Corinthians 12:25, then we find the true interpretation of the Scriptures. Please keep in mind that the emphasis here is what is being taught from the pulpit, not upon individual opinions or private conversations amongst members. Only a Communist dictator would try to control what people say in private conversations.
Let us read again our text passage...
1st Corinthians 12:22, 23 and 25, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. ... That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
When the foolish pastor tried to silence me from telling the truth, he was guilty of the very thing he was accusing me of. Look at the preceding Scripture passage. That pastor kept saying silly things like, “You're not an apostle” and “You're not a pastor,” but I am a teacher! 1st Corinthians 12:28, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” God scolds any Christian who belittles someone else's place as a member of Christ's body, that is, the Church. THAT IS THE SCHISM!!! When a pastor fails to recognize the role of a brother who loves to teach the truth, and is envious instead, thinking he is “less honourable” (1st Corinthians 12:23), then that pastor is causing a split, a gap, a schism, in the Body of Christ. The arrogant pastor I am speaking about needs to get right with God, and recognize that just because I may not have a position as a pastor of a local New Testament church like he does, does not invalidate my ministry efforts or mean that I am less important in the Body of Christ. This truth is so important for you to understand.
What the ignorant Baptist pastor in question thinks—that he is some big Kahuna, some bigshot in town, the Big Man On Campus as a pastor; and that church laymen (like me) are inferior in significance, who teach and fulfill other important duties as members of Christ's Body—Such foolish and unbiblical thinking by pastors cause “schisms” in the Body of Christ!!! Case in point is that I haven't been back to the church since the pastor berated me for telling THE TRUTH. He caused a schism! I refuse to go to a place where I'm not permitted to speak the truth. That pastor has an over-inflated view of himself as the pastor. He thinks that pastors are superior to less spectacular members of Christ's body, such as myself. Well, I may be a calloused heel or perhaps a limp leg, but I am still part of Christ's body. And if I understand 1st Corinthians 12:14-31 correctly, it is teaching that EVERY COUNTS! Every born-again believers is important. In fact, if one member suffers, we all suffer, whether we realize it or not. 1st Corinthians 12:26, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” We ought to love and help one another in the Lord.
And carefully notice that all of the teachings in 1st Corinthians apply to each and every member of the Body of Christ, not just a voted-in member of some local church. A lot of churches treat non-voted members as second-class citizens. That is sinful. That causes schisms in the Body of Christ. So we have learned that being a respecter of persons causes schisms, splits, in Christ's Body.
God has given me the gift of teaching. That is my role in the Body of Christ. I love teaching. I can examine a complicated subject and break it down into simple to understand terms. That is what a gifted teacher can do. I am good at discerning things. But my weakness is in speech. I am slow to think and speak, and so I put my foot in my mouth if I'm not careful. I am much better at expressing myself in writing, because I can take my sweet time to think it through. I was not teaching from the pulpit. I was not teaching aloud in the church auditorium. I was sitting outside the church, next to the parking lot, teaching a fellow saint what was wrong with the Devil's counterfeit Bible versions. And for that the pastor told me to be quiet, for which I disrespect him as a pastor. I have a God-given right and duty to speak THE TRUTH. Shame on that knuckleheaded pastor and any other bad pastor who tries to stifle the truth!!!
God is saying in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 that we're all in this together! When one believer falls, we all fall. When one believer succeeds, we all succeed. All we have is each other! We need each other as believers. And so, the janitor who cleans the toilets that the pastor and church congregation use, is just as important as the pastor himself. I am against the Roman Catholic philosophy that pastors have some special “authority,” which makes him more superior to everyone else in the Body of Christ. You cannot show me that in the Bible. The Bible says that those men who are skilled in the Word and teach ought to be counted worthy of double-honor, but it doesn't say to honor a “position” as pastor. When the Bible speaks of those who “rule over you,” it doesn't mean that you have to obey your pastor(s); but rather, they are our spiritual mentors.
My point is that the guy who mows the church lawn, and the guy who fixes the church buses, and the lady who mails the church's letters, are all just as important to God as the pastor. No one is insignificant in God's family, no one! The entire reason why they had envy, strife and division at the church of Corinth, was because they esteemed some members of Christ's Body as being more significant than others, so they formed cliques and started following each other, saying “I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1st Corinthians 1:12-13).
