Churches are meant to be places of love and unity, where we sing and pray together as one family. However, today, many churches are dividing. These splits hurt our witness to the world. The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 1:10, says we should agree and stay united in Christ. Yet, divisions happen because of human mistakes and poor leadership. One big problem is bad governance in the church, which causes confusion and breaks trust.
Bad governance looks like this: Leaders hide how they spend church money, leaving people wondering where their offerings go. They make decisions alone without asking the congregation, which feels unfair. Some leaders favour their friends or family for important roles, ignoring others. In churches, this might mean older leaders ignore the youth or one person controls everything like a boss, not a servant. This turns the church into a place of arguments instead of a home for worship.
Here are five main reasons why churches split today:
1. Disagreements over beliefs
People fight over what the Bible means. Some argue about baptism, women in leadership or modern issues. One group might call the other wrong, causing a split. This happened in 1 Corinthians 3, where people followed different leaders instead of Christ. Older members might stick to old ways while younger ones want change, leading to fights if they don’t talk it out.
2. Fights for power
Some leaders or members want to be in charge. A deacon might challenge the pastor or someone gathers followers to feel important. This comes from bad governance, with no clear rules for choosing leaders. Acts 20:30 warns that some will twist the truth to gain power. In our churches, this looks like gossip against leaders, turning small problems into big splits.
3. Money problems
When church money is not handled openly, people get upset. They might see new projects, but do not know where the funds came from. If leaders don’t share clear reports, trust breaks and people leave. The Bible, in 1 Timothy 6:10, says money can cause trouble if not handled well.
4. Pride and selfishness
Pride makes people think their way is best. Some want only their favourite songs or complain about leaders to feel big. Proverbs 16:18 says pride leads to trouble. In churches, this might mean someone wants respect more than service, spreading gossip that divides the church.
5. Fear of change and bad communication
Some resist new ideas, like modern worship or new programmes. Others feel ignored because leaders don’t explain decisions. James 4:1 says fights come from selfish desires. In churches, old and young members might clash if they don’t talk openly, causing splits.
These problems are like weeds choking a garden, but we can stop them with care and love.
To avoid splits, churches need humility and open talks. Hold meetings where everyone can share ideas. Train leaders to solve conflicts with prayer and the Bible. Build a church where differences bring growth, not fights, as Ephesians 4:2-3 says: “Be humble, gentle and patient, loving one another to keep peace.”
Good governance means being honest. Share clear money reports. Choose leaders fairly, with rules everyone knows. Listen to all voices – youth, elders, deacons – so decisions follow God’s will, not one person’s ideas. This makes the church strong and united, showing the world Christ’s love, as John 17:21 prays.
Eswatini we can change. I, Rev. Mduduzi Mamba, am hosting a Leadership Conference in Mbabane for all church leaders, elders, deacons and committee members. Our special guest is Rev. Bernard Sia from Ghana Assembly of God, who will teach us to lead with unity. Join us from Wednesday, September 24, to Saturday, September 29, 2025, for church revivals every evening from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Everyone is welcome to come, worship and grow with Rev. Bernard and his team. Let’s unite in Christ.”
Leave a comment