Comment on church splits

Our focus must be centred on Christ and winning souls not on church splits. But if church splits are distracting your concentration on Christ then the following pieces of advice should help you stay focussed.
To leaders of established churches
Leaders or founders of established churches which are experiencing splits or break-aways, will do well if they take Doctor Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin during the rise of Christianity. He said, “Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” In other words he was advising the leaders not to be troubled by the new movement but rather to subject it to the test of time.
Keep expanding your vision and capacity to keep abreast of time and to adopt new methods, styles and approaches to worship while preserving the principles of the Bible. Rigidity or failure to be flexible where necessary may stifle new visions and callings. Jesus’ parable of the new cloth on old and the new wine in old bottles had the immediate interpretation that the arriving Christianity would supersede the existing Judaism so there was a need for a paradigm shift in the minds of the Jewish leaders. The then religious leaders failed to accommodate Christianity because they insisted ‘the old is better’ (Luke 5:36-39).
The same parables can also be interpreted to mean that there is need to be dynamic, have expanded visions, have broadened mindsets and to adopt new styles, approaches and methods that are relevant and applicable to the times. While emphasising the eschatological events like entering heaven and final judgment is popular among old ministers; themes like the need to focus on the immediate economic needs of believers (prosperity) and principles of Christian living are gaining the ascendancy among the new crop of pastors everywhere. The whole counsel of God must be taught but within the context of the audiences’ economic, social, political and cultural trends.          
To new visionaries
The term new visionaries refers to pastors who leave established churches to start their own.
Gamaliel’s acid test of time also applies to you. Know that the authenticity and genuineness of your calling and vision will be tested by time. If you truly heard God and were “not disobedient to the heavenly vision,” then relax time is your friend and it will prove your move was God-directed.
However, there are two more tests awaiting you: the fruit test (Mat. 7:20) and the fire test (1 Cor. 3-11-15). The fruit test is about moral character. Your opponents and followers will know by the kind of fruit you produce both in character and service that truly you were called. The fire test is about the final judgment of your work by fire. God will reward you for good work and judge you for evil work. There is no need to badmouth the church you left because it formed an important platform for you and you got your spiritual heritage from it. Walk in love.
To the flock     
Whether you remain with the old church or ship out with the new visionaries is not a cause for concern.
However, what you need to avoid is partyism in the church and deification of ministers. Partyism is when you say you belong to Paul and fight with another who says he belongs to Apollos (1 Cor. 3:4). Do not compare ministers and judge the ones you think are “cold” and praise the ones you think are “on fire.”
All the five-fold ministries of pastors, evangelists, apostles, prophets and teachers are for your benefit; to be equipped for effective service and to become well-rounded in character. You need all of them. Avoid cursing your former pastors; they gave you enough light so you could see the better things you now see. Avoid worshipping your pastor.  Your pastor can only plant and water but God gives the increase. Honour God!
If you have chosen your pastor then stick to that church and stop the church-hopping business or else you will not grow while being carried away by every wind of doctrine.
More revivals, more movements, and more fiery pastors will come and you will not need to constantly change. Remember, rootedness is the foundational principle of growth.   
Projection
If the current trend of church splits continues, we will eventually witness a decline in denominationalism and we will have non-denominational churches, and formation of ministries named after the founders or leaders as is the current trend in the west particularly in the United States. The need to have a governing body or an administrative council at the apex of every denomination will be removed. Whether this move will bring ill or good on the church is uncertain but believers are warned against being deceived by holding fast to the truth of God’s word.

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