What Does Jesus Think of All the Religious Division Today?
Is the division what He wants?
There are over 45,000 denominations worldwide.
The vast majority of these denominations came into existence within the last 500 years.
Is Jesus pleased with this development? Are denominations just an unfortunate necessity in our ever-changing world today, or are they a departure from what God has said?
What Jesus Wants
Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, He prayed to the Father. His prayer was about His work and His apostles - but it also included someone else. It included all those who would believe in Him through the apostle’s words.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)
Notice the Lord’s emphasis on His followers being one?
He desired His followers be one just as the Father and He were one. Jesus did not teach anything that the Father disagreed with.
For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50)
For Jesus’ followers to be one just as Jesus and the Father are one, the Lord’s followers must teach the truth - which is the word of God (John 17:17).
Jesus desired His followers be one so that the world would know that the Father had sent Him to this world. The division that we see in the religious world today distracts from the mission of Jesus.
Neither Jesus nor the Father wants to see the religious division in the world. They desire unity based upon the truth.
Even the apostle Paul condemned division among Christians.
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
The New Testament is clear - division among Christians is not what God wants. If God does not want division, then we should not want division either.
Those who wish to follow God must submit themselves to what God has said and be willing to throw out any traditions that don’t fit with God’s Word.