Division: The True Heresy

The Greek word "hairesis" is translated to heresy in some English translations of the bible but the Greek word means sect, division, or faction. Today our English word heresy means "an opinion or doctrine contrary to the generally accepted doctrines of a religious body or church." Somewhere in history this meaning was turned upside down to support division.  We could even easily say that heresies are denominations and even individual church institutions. Many churches have "members" and it is frowned upon to even go to other churches more than a few times if you are a "member" of a different one.

"There will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies (divisions/sects/factions), even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves. And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words." (2 Peter 2:1-3)

"Now THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE OBVIOUS: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, HERESIES (divisions/sects/factions), envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things." (Galatians 5:19-21)

It is even obvious to non-Christians that divisions are bad. But look at how most of what is in that list is directly divisive:
"hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envying"
Many of these works of the flesh are things where people are pitted against one another. They aren't just one person harming another where there is one victim. Many of these go both ways. In Proverbs 6 one of the things the Lord hates is "stirring up dissension among brothers."

"Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty. Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself." (Titus 3:9-11)
"Do not fight over words it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." (2 Timothy 2:14)
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."  (2 Timothy 2:23-24)

But the "Christian" religion is built on division, arguments, and fighting over words/doctrines/traditions. We're taught to be individual stones in church institutions. They don't build us up together but set us against people in other churches.

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 15:7)
When Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross beside Him Jesus didn't check out his stand on the virgin birth or the Trinity before promising him a place in paradise, did He?

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21).
Jesus says in John 6:40 "My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and trusts in him shall have eternal life."

Trying to hold to Jesus plus this or Jesus minus that doesn't work, it only causes division.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
This may sound like a small statement but in fact it is one of the largest statements ever made! Jesus Christ is all, there is no more of love, goodness, and benefit than Him.

The shame is that the "Christian" religion barely teaches Christ, if at all. It teaches church instead of Christ; Attendance to an institution instead of living by the indwelling of Christ; Traditions instead of truth; exhausting laws instead of eternal life. The love of Jesus Christ is the perfect bond of unity. When you subtract from His love or add conditions to His love there will be division because people will seek to be justified and satisfied by something other than Christ.