“17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come” (I Corinthians 11:17-34).

     The word Church in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah). The simplest meaning of the word is the called out ones. However, in the broader sense, the word cannot be separated from the assembly or gathering together of those called out ones. The idea is that these people are called out from the world to gather together for the purpose of worship, training and ministry. Therefore, although the called out ones are the Church even when dispersed, the word Church is a word that identifies them in assembly.

     It is obvious from I Corinthians 11:17-22 that the assembled church at Corinth had some deep seated spiritual problems that caused serious divisions between its members. Spiritual unity was destroyed and communion with one another was broken. However, the most serious consequences of these divisions was that communion with Christ was broken. When believers live in any way that brings division within the body of Christ, those believers bring God’s chastisement upon that local assembly and cause God to withhold His blessing on that local church until those divisions are resolved. There is a great urgency communicated in Paul’s teaching in I Corinthians 11:17-34 regarding this resolution.

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (I Corinthians 11:29).

     One of the purposes of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is to be a continual reminder of what is necessary to maintain our communion with Christ. Dr. Paul R. Jackson said, “As baptism symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ, so the Lord’s Supper symbolizes his communion with Christ” (The Doctrine And Administration Of The Church, Regular Baptist Press).

     The Body of Christ Principle is taught as a unity on numerous occasions in Scripture. The “body of Christ” is intended to function as a harmonious symphony of living truth with each person contributing to that harmony with the Spirit empowered talents God has given him. Romans chapter 12 lays out the criteria for unity within the “body of Christ.”

“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:1-21).

1. The first criterion is that the believer is to give his life to the Lord as a “living sacrifice.”
2. Second, the believer is to be separate from the things of the world.
3. Third, the believer is to use whatever talent/gifts God has given him doing the work of the ministry.

     I have never known of a Christian who is diligently seeking to bring God honor and glory through his ministry to cause divisions within a church. On the other hand, I can honestly say that every instance of division I have ever witnessed in a local church is by individuals who are either looking for self-glory or by those who do nothing for the cause of Christ.

     Anytime a believer destroys the unity of a local “body of Christ” through sin, pride, selfishness, unforgiveness, gossip or any other thing, that individual (or individuals) destroys the communion of that local assembly. That is a serious sin when we consider that every local church is part of “the household of God.”

“19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

     When Paul accuses these believers at Corinth of division and “not discerning the Lord’s body” (I Corinthians 11:29), he is making one of the most serious of accusations he can bring against a believer. The word “discerning” is from the Greek word diakrino (dee-ak-ree'-no). This word is made up of two Greek words. Dia (dee-ah') means through the ground or reason by which something is or is not done. Krino (kree'-no) means to separate, to pick out, to select or to approve. Therefore, this word means the ability to reason through a matter in order to make the correct decision resulting in a course of action that will honor God.

     The Christian who causes division in a local church does not consider the impact his life has on the local “body of Christ” to which he has joined himself. Paul addresses this divisive attitude in I Corinthians 12:12-27.

“12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Corinthians 12:12-27).

     Communion (spiritual unity or “fellowship”) is important to God. Without it, a local church cannot be blessed of God or be used of God. That is why God commands a local church to maintain “unity.”

“1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

     The word “endeavouring” in Ephesians 4:3 is from the Greek word spoudazo (spoo-dad'-zo). It means to make haste. The intent is to give great diligence to “unity of the Spirit.” The word “keep” is from the Greek word tereo (tay-reh'-o) meaning to maintain a state or position. That state or position is “unity of the Spirit.” When one Christian in a local church breaks the “unity of the Spirit,” he brings the local “body” he has joined himself to into that disunity as well. If any member of a “body” is out of unity, the whole of the “body” is out of unity.