What is a Sect?

by Jonathan Perz

The word “sect” is used today to describe a variety of things. The meaning of the word often depends upon who is using it. The following description of a “sect” was used in a recent discussion of a blog post where the church of Christ was called a “sect” by one who was expressing his official withdrawal from said “sect” (http://stevedewhirst.com/the-church-of-christ-sect/).

“A sect is a body of churches that recognize themselves as part of the larger church universal (churches rather than individuals), which sees itself as the only true Christians and looks with disdain on others. They typically insist that they all have the same name and observe all the same practices. NOT what they do in worship, as they should be similar, but in the traditional practices men have tacked on over the years. There is usually a group of men within the sect (though not officially appointed) who's job it is to ride herd over everyone else and use papers and pulpits to denounce those thought to be out of line. A sect is, by definition, an inwardly-looking group that rarely evangelizes, though often speaks of the importance of it. The emphasis is usually upon "doing church correctly" than in reshaping ourselves into the image of Christ and trying to reach the lost.” (Steve Dewhirst, Facebook comment, 11/4/2013).

When considered in light of the standardly accepted definition of the word “sect,” this clearly embittered description seems wholly arbitrary and largely sectarian. 

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word “sect” as follows:

1a : a dissenting or schismatic religious body especially : one regarded as extreme or heretical
  b : a religious denomination
2 archaic : SEX 1 〈so is all her sect —Shakespeare.〉
3a : a group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or to a leader
  b : PARTY
  c : FACTION

The Greek word translated “sect” (hairesis, αἵρεσις) in the New Testament is used only nine times. It is also translated once as “factions” (1 Cor. 11:19) and twice as “heresies” (Gal. 5:20; 2 Pet. 2:1).

By inspiration, Luke uses it to describe “the sect of the Sadducees” (Acts 5:17) on one occasion and “the sect of Pharisees” (Acts 15:5) on another occasion. The apostle Paul also uses it to describe his existence as a Jew in this way: “according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee” (Acts 26:5). The term “sect” does not seem to be used derogatorily in these instances, but instead as commonly accepted descriptions of the Sadducees and Pharisees—two clear and recognized divisions within Judaism.

The most interesting use of the word is when it is directed at Christianity. On one occasion, Paul was being accused by the Jews and their orator Tertullus, who said, “For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). Christians were disparagingly called “the sect of the Nazarenes.”

As Paul replied and addressed these charges against him, he said, “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worshipped the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14). Notice, Paul did not necessarily deny the charge, but did emphasized the fact that they called it a “sect,” not he.

The final use of this word translated “sect” in the New Testament was by the Jewish leaders in Rome. They had told Paul, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere” (Acts 28:21-22).

By quick observation, we can see that the word was negatively applied to Christianity in the first century. They were called a “sect” initially by the Jewish leaders, because Christianity originated and was naturally thought of as a mere division of Judaism. The first Christians were indeed Jewish, so this makes sense. However, the Jews who derogatorily spoke of Christianity as a mere “sect” did not realize that it was not men that they were speaking against, but the Lord. As the Lord told Saul on the road to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” . . . “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you kick against the goads” (Acts 9:3, 5).

Today, the word has been employed largely to describe the various and altogether overly abundant divisions amongst those who profess Christianity. It is often used derogatorily to categorize and differentiate a group’s doctrine as contrary to the will of God (or at least the user’s current view of the will of God). It is often arbitrarily and subjectively utilized, in that its meaning is not consistently clear by its use and it is applied based on one’s own current paradigm.

Ironically, it is often used by those who are and were dividing from one group to form another group within Christianity (usually thought of as more accurate and truthful than the group they were leaving). Such division is usually accompanied by the almost absurd claim of avoiding or fleeing such sectarian thinking. Paul charged Titus to “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned” (Tit. 3:10-11). The Greek word translated “divisive man” is hairetikos, (αἱρετικός). Vine’s Dictionary defines this word as “causing division by a party spirit, factious.” By definition and stated fact, who is the true sectarian here?

The challenge for anyone today who would follow Christ and be in fellowship with those who desire to do the same is to look at this fractured and seemingly perpetually dividing group of people who all profess to be following Jesus Christ and decide who are “sects” and who are Christians. Clearly, such a sectarian and divided body was never Christ’s intent for His church (cf. John 17:20-23; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:3, et al). Largely due to heretical and divisive thinking, what we have today is an absolute mess. Sadly, a well-disguised and deeply imbedded discontent and dissatisfaction with the authoritative value of the word of the Lord is at the heart of much of this problem. Tragically, this is what the world has come to know today as “Christianity.”  

Our real need is less emphasis on dividing and labeling and greater emphasis upon “endeavoring to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). As difficult as it is for anyone who has embraced the post-modernistic thinking of our culture to understand, we have an absolute standard by which we can identify true Christianity. As Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31; cf. Acts 11:26). The fruit of true sectarian thinking is division. Christians seek unity based on God’s righteous standard alone—His Word.  As Jesus said, “For every tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:43). Judge appropriately.

 

Other Articles by Jonathan Perz
"The Doctrine of Perfectionism"
To Whose Tune Do You Hearken?
Fellowship With God is Conditional
Catechismal Christianity
"I'm Too busy for Church"