Church splits can be painful for both sides, the “stayers” and the “leavers.” But either side can find solace in the Bible.

For those who stay, for example, 1 John 2:19-20 offers great encouragement: “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.”

It is wonderful to just know in your heart from the Holy Spirit that you are on the right side and the people who left the church are on the wrong side.

And for those who leave, Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:17 can really help: “’Come out from their midst and be separate’ says the Lord.” Also, Revelation 18:4: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.”

It is always comforting to know that you got out of a church before the plagues started falling. 

Of course, God is merciful, and those plagues don’t always fall immediately. If you use Facebook, however, to daily troll those who stayed, it won’t be too many years before you will be seeing some good news of their suffering a well-deserved plague.

But what about those scriptures that admonish Christians to love one another?

The answer is, those scriptures only apply to true Christians. If you are a “stayer,” you can be certain that the “leavers” are not true Christians. If they were, they would not have left. And if you are a “leaver,” you can be certain that the “stayers” are not true Christians. If they were, they would not have stayed. It is just that simple. As Paul wrote in Romans 14:5: “Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Both sides should remember that Jesus did say, “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division” (Luke 12:51).

Although church splits are an inevitable part of following Christ, they don’t have to be near as painful…if you will just dig into God’s Word to find Bible verses that support your side.

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