Exhortation, December 26

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As Pastor Wilson will explain more fully in the sermon this morning, division is an essential part of creation. God creates by dividing light and darkness, by separating waters above and waters below, by drawing a boundary between sea and land.

This creative division continues throughout Scripture, as God recreates the world over and over again. He begins to form His people by cutting Abraham off from the Gentiles, a separation symbolized by the physical cutting of circumcision. He recreates Israel by dividing them from Egypt, and by dividing the waters of the Sea of Reeds. He creates the holy space of the tabernacle by separating holy and profane, and He appoints priests as specialists in making distinctions. In the New Covenant, Jews and Gentiles are united as one new man, but together believing Jews and believing Gentiles are called to separate themselves from the world of unbelief.

There are many applications for this principle, but given our setting this morning, with a combined service of Christ Church and Trinity Reformed Church, let me focus particularly on its application to the church. A year and a half ago, Christ Church divided into two congregations. This was a risky venture, and we are still going through some of the growing pains of this division. But the venture of separating into two congregations is perfectly consistent with with Scriptural principles and patterns.

The goal from the beginning has been to function as two congregations of one local church community. But because we are divided into two congregations, we need to work at preserving unity among us. One way we preserve and promote this unity is by regularly worshiping together. This manifests liturgically our goal of remaining united in the midst of our division. Regular combined services help to ensure that our division does not become divisive. So, after the service, make sure that your fellowship doesn�t fall into the usual cliques. Make a point to greet and talk to folks from the other congregation. And remember: Only after his division from Eve was Adam able to say, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.

Division itself is not sinful, but is a basic principle of creation. But of course, some divisions are sinful. And, on the other hand, Scripture makes it very clear that sometimes it is sinful not to divide. Sometimes union is sinful, for Paul says that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. When we consider these things, we are reminded of our need to confess our sins.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 09:17 AM

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