What Does Dissension Mean in the Bible?
Dissension is a dangerous weapon used by false teachers and the devil to destroy the church. Let’s explore this weapon and what it means to the church. Dissension was created by inequity, either deliberate or accidental. It was the result of inequity that the first dissension occurred.
Dissension is a weapon of evil
The Bible teaches that dissent and division are weapons of evil. Many passages in the Bible condemn dissent and praise obedience. Some passages, like Acts of the Apostles, use not-so-common words to describe dissent. For example, the Oxford dictionary defines “dissembling” as “hypocrisy.” In other passages, deception is described as “dirty” or “dirty.” It is not a good idea to keep company with people who do not conform to God’s will.
Dissension is a weapon of the devil, who loves to get involved in congregational meetings and church business. While some disagreements are merely differences of opinion, others can develop into full-fledged wars. This is why the Bible warns believers to be watchful and vigilant in the face of dissension.
It is a threat to the church
Dissension is a danger to the church, whether it’s deliberate or accidental. In Revelation chapter 6 we learn about a group of believers that became divided due to envy and misunderstanding. The evil one loves to stir up dissension among God’s people.
Dissension threatens the unity of the church. Paul calls for unity by urging believers to reject false teachers and adhere to the teachings of the apostles. Yet, this is different from schism, which involves setting people against the leadership.
When the printing press came along, the Bible was made available to outsiders. Because of its accessibility, people could read it and learn about the doctrines of God.
It is a weapon of the devil
Dissension is a major weapon of the devil in the Bible, with references to it 34 times in the Bible. Although this term is not used to describe the devil himself, it is often used to describe men who oppose God. The Bible warns against the use of dissension in the church.
According to the Bible, the devil is real and occupies two worlds: the earth and the air. He rules over evil men and spirits. While Jesus did not acknowledge Satan as king, he called him the “prince of this world.” According to the Ephesians scripture, Satan rules over unregenerate humanity and is considered a mighty and powerful spirit. According to the Bible, the devil once adorned the heavens as the most beautiful angel. He now resides on earth, but he has access to heaven.
The Bible teaches that anger and dissension are weapons of the devil. The Bible compares anger to fire. A small flame burns wood, but if the flame is fanned, it becomes a bonfire. Once unchecked, it will eventually turn into a forest fire.
It is a weapon of false teachers
False teachers use a variety of weapons to lure undiscerning people away from the truth. These weapons include false doctrine, deception, and the ability to manipulate people into believing something they don’t want to hear. Throughout Scripture, false teachers use deception to trick the naive into believing something they don’t want to hear. Some false teachers claim to be godly men, but they are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.
False teachers can lead unsuspecting people into sin, disbelief, and corruption. They can distort the Scriptures and the words of the apostles. Moreover, they can conceal judgment. Peter refers to previous judgments that happened to angels for leaving their positions. Another example is when Noah’s flood wiped out the ancient world.
It is a threat to leaders
The Apostle Paul addressed the problem of dissension with his fellow elders in Acts 20. At that time, Paul was nearing the end of his life, and he sought to gather his church’s elders together to hear him teach. His farewell speech is instructive to pastors today.