What Is A Faction?

By Gene Frost

Division is deplorable; it is contrary to the expressed will of Christ. (John 17:20-21) Yet there will be found those in the church who do not have a proper respect and love for truth, so that in their love for unauthorized practices they will accept error. (2 Thess. 2:10-12) They allow themselves to be deceived. Such ones rally around the doctrine or practice of their affection to form a sect or heresy. The faction leads off the unfaithful whereby the approved of God are manifested: ^“For there must be also heresies among you; that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.^” (I Cor. 11:19; see 1 John 2:19.)

A faction is not determined by a relationship to anything material (e.g., building, newspaper, college, or group). Sometimes brethren are quick to designate a body of disciples as being a “faction” because they disassociate themselves from those who continue to meet in a building in which they formerly met, or because they differ from a position espoused by a paper, college, or group of well-known preachers. Some may conclude that a faction is such because it is the smaller of two groups. But these are not the identifying characteristics of a faction. The word “faction” denotes basically self-willed, selfish ambition. When this spirit results in a division, a sect is formed. A faction (as a sect) is identified by allegiance to “self-willed opinion, which is substituted for sub-mission to the power of truth.” (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words: heresy.)

In identifying a faction (i.e. sect) one must not look to a building, or the pronouncement of men. Whenever men abide in the truth they are approved of God. (2 John 9,1 John 2:3-4.) A faction, on the other hand, is a sect that has “gone beyond” the doctrine of Christ to practice a self-willed opinion. The faction may wrest the property from the faithful Christians, be the larger group, and receive the plaudits of men. It is usually characterized by an unwillingness to “give an answer ... a reason of the hope.” (1 Pet. 3:15) Factious leaders indulge in personal attacks, subterfuge and quibbles to divert attention from the truth at issue—anything but debate their cause: “contend forensically, to plead a cause” (Prov. 25:9). (Gesenius’ Hebrew-English Lexicon, page 767.)

When brethren become self willed, determined to do their own will regardless of what the Bible says, those that are ‘approved must come out from them, i.e. be outwardly, visibly, distinct from them. To do otherwise is to partake of their evil deeds. (2 John 9) It is regrettable that men will sometimes count dearer a building, a friendship, or popularity with a majority, than they do the truth, so that they will continue in a faction (sect). Regardless of the rationalizing that may done, the issue is easily resolved: Is a group acting according to or teaching in support of a self-willed opinion (hence hesitant to give Bible authority), and therefore a faction? If so, come out of it. Or does the group abide in truth (willing to give Bible authority for its doctrine and practice)? This is the issue that must decide one’s conduct.

Gospel Anchor (November 1989)