Beware Division

I recently became aware of a public falling out between two groups of prophets. Both groups have significant, well known global ministries. Both sides seem to be trying to be honourable and godly, but still, there is disagreement.

I met with a small group of godly (but largely unknown) ministers to pray, and felt that God spoke, reminding me of 1 Cor 1:10-12: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”” and 1 Cor 3:3-4: “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?”

His word seemed clear: Do not take sides.

Now, even the apostles disagreed from time to time, and when prophecies are released that are false, yes we do need to speak up and warn God’s people so they are not deceived. BUT, in this scenario with mature prophets it seems more likely to be about misunderstanding that requires careful handling, so we don’t risk major division. And so of far greater concern to me in this current scenario was the amount of people in the days after this public disagreement who immediately started taking sides and fanning the flames of division with their words. Not taking time to pray through and discern the deeper truth, but a kind of knee-jerk rush to judge and be the first to decide/ release their own opinion. Suddenly several other people recognised as having prophetic ministries started announcing a split coming between the prophets, using words like “you will know them by their fruit” (Matt 7:16). Sounds Biblical, right? Now, I do not know whether these multiple prophets have genuinely heard something different from God than what I believe I heard, or whether they are just watching and interpreting from their own understanding (something I am trying hard not to do, but none of us are infallible) – I just know we need to take time to properly test it all. And I was alarmed at the speed of which the division seemed to be spreading before anyone had chance to properly test anything, and the readiness of God’s people to take sides.

For that is the spirit increasing its stronghold in the world right now: a nasty, divisive, partisan one, causing people to rise up against their neighbours and draw boundaries based on disagreement leading to hatred. Even in the countries where war is not raging, our media is feeding us with propaganda designed to make us take sides. And in the name of so-called “tolerance”, people are being cancelled, frozen out, even sentenced for praying inside their heads! This is not of God. Division is not of God.

And the picture I felt God gave me when I prayed, was of children hiding under a table, watching in fear as Mummy and Daddy argued. But I felt Him saying “Do not fear, but come up higher…” And as I watched, we the children rose up and grew wings, mounting high into the sky, able to look down on the situation as from God’s perspective. From that Heavenly realm, above and not underneath the worldly spirit of division, we were able to access the Father’s heart for His quarrelling children, and intercede for love and grace. We were able to see both sides with compassion, and to cover their mistakes with mercy. For when God’s children fall out, it is not about good fighting evil, but about the enemy coming against both parties. And we fight him by coming in the opposite spirit. Where he brings division and judgemental partisanship, we bring grace, love, forgiveness, unity. We DO NOT take sides.

So how do we do that, when the Bible does teach us to guard against false prophets? Don’t we need to know who is right and/ or wrong? I believe the answer is simple: we go into the secret place, shut the door so we are no distracted by others’ opinions, and ask God to show us the truth. That is what I am trying to do, and I recommend you do the same. Don’t just listen to me or anyone else – ask God for yourself! And whatever the truth is about the disagreement, I do know that we all only see in part (1 Cor 13:9) and there are probably errors on both sides. And the higher truth – our starting point – is that God loves His children and does not want any of them to fall. The truth is that He desires us to pray for both parties to pursue godly love and unity as well as pursuing His deeper, purer revelation. And that even where errors have occurred and even been ministered, He desires His beloved children to return to Him, not to be judged, segregated and cancelled. We must cover it all with love (1 Pet 4:8), and not leave the secret place until love for all parties is our driving force.

So wherever we see division coming against God’s people, let’s not join the crowds of people trying to take sides. Let’s resist the temptation to judge and join the argument, but rather come up higher and join the host of Heaven interceding for God’s will to be done and His Kingdom to come, that we all would be one as Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one (John 17:21). And let’s ask for God’s help in walking that out in our own personal lives. For it is in the individual walking every day with Jesus, submitted to the Father and led by the Holy Spirit, that victory is won.