Division is the Devil’s Work

There is no doubt that our society has become extremely fragmented in recent years. This is nothing new in the life of the Church. That doesn’t mean we should be ‘ok’ with division. The only one who celebrates division is the devil. Anyone who creates division does the devil’s work.

Brethren, I appeal to you to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil; then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastos, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16.17-24

Shortly before Christ’s passion on the Cross, He prayed, “That they may be one even as We are one.” (see the High Priestly Prayer – John 17) As Saint Paul points out, anyone who desires and creates division is working against God.

Workers against God help the devil, who has been fighting God since the creation. The devil was not happy being below God. The devil wanted to be God. Since the devil cannot be God, he incites others to join in the fight against God. If God wants for unity. The devil wants division.

His very name is synonymous with division. Ο διάβολος is the one who divides. In the current global Orthodox environment, division seems to be celebrated lately rather than avoided. At the slightest disagreement, the Church is thrust into division. Is anyone even fighting for unity anymore?

Throughout our history as Orthodox Christians, unity has always been the hallmark of our success. From the date of Pascha to which books were ‘in vs out’ of the Bible, unity was always the goal.

It was not unheard of in the past for the Church to remain united while still vehemently disagreeing, so long as unity with each other was maintained. It has only ever been after all options have been exhausted, after all dialogue failed, that division occurred.

When it comes to the unity of Christians, we must never give up trying, either to maintain what unity we have, or to reunite with those who have walked away. It was Christ’s prayer before the Cross. Giving up on unity is giving up on God’s will.

If there is a relationship in your life in which you suffer division, whether you created the division or did not, consider what you can do to restore unity. I’m not talking about unity at all costs. When it comes to faith, our unity is with Truth. Our unity is with Christ and each other.

Don’t ever give up trying to unite. It is when we stop talking that division is made permanent. In the Church that is called Anathema, the end of all discussion. Anathema is the last resort. Permanent division is the last resort, and only serves the devil. We must do better.