The heading found in my Bible (NKJV) in 1 Corinthians 3 is “Sectarianism is Carnal.” Now, the headings are not inspired, it is simply the translator trying to give a very quick and concise summary of the paragraph’s content. But, in this instance, it seems to be well considered. This is certainly true.
Let’s first talk definitions. Sectarianism — excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion (Oxford Languages). The word is not found in the New Testament writings, but the concept surely is. In chapter 1 of the text, Paul admonished the Corinthians for following after different men, “Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
Christ consistently called for unity among His followers. He prayed to the Father in John 17 for His disciples “that they may be one as We are” (11). The sentiment continued regarding all of us as He said the same in verse 21. This unity is not obtained through diversity of thought and action. It comes through single mindedness, believing and teaching the same thing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10). This is why in His prayer, Jesus constantly referred to truth. He prayed to His Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Now let us define another word. Carnal — “having the nature of flesh, i. e. under the control of the animal appetites. Governed by mere human nature, not by the Spirit of God.” Now this word is found in our New Testaments, and I took the definition from Thayer. In fact, it is found in our text in 1 Corinthians 3:1,3,4. Consider especially the words from Paul’s pen in verse 3, “for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
Let us take a few moments to consider the way the word “sectarianism” is used in today’s culture. It has been turned on its ear. Now, those who contend for truth are the sectarians. If they devote themselves to the truth (as our Lord prayed), they are guilty of division, and fomenting strife. The only way to be non-sectarian is to stand for nothing. Compromise and inanity is substituted for the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). If you have audacity to contend for following Christ rather than men, you yourself are called a sectarian. Truth is just as offensive as error, if not more so.
It simply does not make sense. If you have two men, teaching two different doctrines, there is going to be a dispute. They are not both speaking “the same things”. Now, they both may be wrong. They may be teaching something indefensible. But what if one of them is speaking the truth? How can a man who is emulating Christ in character and in truth be accused of sectarianism? It is wrong to follow after the teachings of mere men… but truth sanctifies! The stand for truth is not sectarianism. This is obvious by the actions of the apostles themselves. In Acts 15, when the apostles defended the truth against the Judaizing teachers, they weren’t being sectarian. In fact, Jude wrote that such a defense of truth is necessary. “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Paul often defended the truth against false teachers, men like Hymenaeus, Philetus and Alexander the coppersmith. Concerning the Judaizers, he wrote in Galatians 5:7-12, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!” It is obvious that he considered those who taught error to be the guilty ones, the one who were the cause of strife and division, as they led the gullible Galatians away.
And here we get to brass tacks. Sectarianism doesn’t include a clinging to truth. It comes from clinging to men. The Corinthians, granted, were clinging to men that themselves were faithful, but their allegiance was not to Christ, it was to Paul, Apollos and Cephas. They were not “all joined together in the same mind and the same judgment” because they did not have the same standard, truth.
Because of this Paul called them “carnal and behaving like mere men” (1 Corinthians 3:3). I like the phrase “mere men.” It indicates that we men can be something more. Perhaps this should be considered as we note our Lord’s prayer once again. Maybe we can be unified as Jesus and His Father were. Unified in purpose. Unified in Love. Unified in Will. Unified in their plan for man. Perhaps we can do this, “that the world may believe that You (God) sent Me (His Son).”
Denominationalism is Sectarianism. It is the teaching of men that divides us into seekers after Paul, Apollos and Cephas. Instead we should all speak the same thing, following Christ and the Holy Spirit, and what they taught us. Following truth! If we do so we can be more than mere men.
