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5 Reasons Disunity Happens in Church Plants
Nearly two-thirds of the struggling plants I spoke to shared that disunity was a significant factor in their difficulties.
One of the questions I’m often asked about, when discussing why church plants struggle, is whether any of the results were particularly surprising. In one sense, the answer is no. Having served as a pastor and planter for over 20 years, to be perfectly honest—all 80 of the stories from my book, Wise Church Planting, resonate with me to some degree. Church ministry “under the sun,” regardless of context or setting, will have common threads and struggles.
But the commonality of this month’s “pitfall” surprised me. Nearly two-thirds of the struggling plants I spoke to shared that disunity was a significant factor in their difficulties.
Of course, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Why? Here are five reasons why disunity is such a prevalent pitfall:
Why might we expect disunity in church plants?
1. Because we’re human
Humans—even regenerate, gospel-loving, Christ-following humans—are proud, unfinished, messy, and complicated. And we easily divide. In one sense, it’s easy to believe the gospel on paper—it’s a truth or doctrine we can assent to, a box we can tick even. But living it out? Transforming us from within? Letting it shape our church culture? That can be much more challenging.
In the early days of a plant, without a long history or deep friendships, tensions and misunderstandings can arise. People often quip that ‘community’ is great in theory … just not in practice when people are involved. All churches, because they contain people (people like you and people like me), will be prone to disunity, but plants can be especially susceptible.
2. Because we’re in the early 21st century
Many have commented on our (perhaps largely social-media-algorithm-induced) inability to handle differences well, and this certainly plays out in the church. Whether it’s our hyper-individualism, our tribalism, our obsession with self-esteem, or even our simple avoidance of discomfort, we struggle to navigate differences and disputes. We’re happier in our echo-chambers where everyone thinks like us.
Rather than carefully and lovingly engaging with nuance, fuses are short and tempers quick to flare, leading to friction and factions.
3. Because we (often) attract the disgruntled
My own planting story (and as I later realized, the story of many others) involved an early surge in numbers from local “disgruntled” Christians. Some were a joy—keen to serve and be part of a gospel witness in their area. Perhaps they had been commuting long distances to other churches, or they were settled locally but struggling, and our plant gave them the church family they were looking for.
However, we also picked up more complicated characters who had tried dozens of churches and were forever discontent. In our case, they came with niche eschatological views and were eager to test how open we were to hearing those ideas—and even whether we’d let them have a platform to share them. Disgruntled disciples often bring disunity and division!
4. Because we plant with diverse teams
One of the most effective ways to reach diverse communities is by building diverse planting teams. The church in Antioch (Acts 11-13) beautifully exemplifies this, with leadership drawn from across the community—economically, educationally, and ethnically. Diversity on paper looks simple, but, like community, it can be complicated and painful in practice.
Cultural confusions, differing definitions, and assumptions can easily create friction. People who come from different churches or backgrounds often reveal our blind spots.
5. Because we have an enemy
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a beautiful call for a diverse church to live out the unity we already have in Christ. Paul isn’t urging them to find unity but to live out the unity they already possess. Yet, by chapter 6, Paul seems to shift slightly, calling them to put on the armour of God and stand firm.
Perhaps the spiritual battle Paul has in mind is primarily the battle to live out that unity. We have an enemy who loves to pull apart what Jesus has brought together. Our enemy wants to undo the work of the gospel. The cross has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility, but we’re more than capable of building new ones. Have you notice how often in the New Testament disunity threatens the gospel witness? See 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Colossians.
And so, what?
Being aware of the issue of disunity before it arises can help us prepare. Take time to build relationships, listen and learn, be curious, and enjoy the perspectives and stories of other believers on your team. Keep short accounts, forgive when necessary, and foster an honest and patient gospel culture that lives out the unity we already have in Christ. Go slow. Don’t make assumptions about definitions or vision or values.
Listen to Paul in Philippians 2, as he speaks to yet another church wrestling with disunity:
“If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”
We can prepare and expect for disunity—but let’s also prepare and expect for the pursuit of gospel-formed unity.
