Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.
- Titus 3:10-11
Every church, no matter its size, faces challenges in relationships. While the gospel calls us to unity in Christ, human pride, selfishness, and stubbornness often create conflict. Some disagreements are normal and can even be healthy when handled with humility and love. But what happens when conflict hardens into division, and a person refuses to repent?
Paul gave a warning against these in verse 9 just before this: “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” Now, after that warning, Paul gives clear instructions to Titus about handling divisive people in the church. His words remind us that unity in the body of Christ is precious, fragile, and worth protecting.
What does “divisive” mean? The Greek word Paul uses is the root of our English word “heretic.” In this context, it refers not only to false teachers but also to anyone who stubbornly chooses their own path and rejects correction. Such a person creates factions, stirs division, and threatens the unity of the church. This doesn’t describe someone who simply has questions, wrestles with doubt, or disagrees respectfully on secondary matters. A divisive person is someone who refuses correction, promotes their own agenda over the gospel, stirs conflict intentionally, and puts themselves above the unity of the body.
Division is a serious issue because it undermines the witness of the church. Jesus prayed in John 17 that His followers would be one, so that the world may believe. The gospel message is obscured when the church is torn apart by factions and quarrels. Paul repeatedly warns against division, including passages like 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and Galatians 5:19-21. For him, divisiveness is not a small issue; it’s evidence of sin and rebellion.
Paul instructs Titus to follow a clear process when dealing with divisiveness, outlined in verse 10. The first step is confrontation. A divisive person must be warned, lovingly but firmly, that their behavior is damaging the body. This warning should be clear, specific, and grounded in Scripture. The goal is repentance and restoration, not punishment.
Then, if the person refuses to listen, Paul says to warn them again. This second warning reinforces the seriousness of the matter and provides another opportunity for repentance. It reflects God’s patience and mercy; He is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
If, after two warnings, the person remains unrepentant, Paul says to “have nothing to do with them.” This echoes Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:15-17 about church discipline: if someone refuses to listen even to the church, “treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” The purpose is not cruelty but protection, guarding the church from further harm, and a last effort to bring the person to repentance by showing the seriousness of their sin.
The church is one body, and division is like a disease. Just as a doctor removes an infection to save the body, leaders sometimes must separate a divisive person to preserve the health of the church. When unbelievers see a church consumed by quarrels, they are repelled from Christ. But when they see a church that values truth, love, and unity, they are drawn to Him. Protecting against division is not just about internal harmony; it’s about the church’s mission.
Paul then gives a strong assessment in verse 11: “You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” The word “warped” conveys being twisted, turned from what is straight and true. A divisive person is no longer aligned with God’s truth but has distorted it for their own ends. Paul names the root issue: sinfulness. Division is not just a personality quirk; it is rebellion against God’s design for His church. But perhaps the most sobering phrase is that Paul says they condemn themselves. By persisting in sin and refusing correction, they bring judgment on their own head. The church doesn’t condemn them; their own actions do in light of God’s standards.
As believers today, we need to recognize the danger of division. In an age where individualism is celebrated, it’s easy to downplay division as a difference of opinion. But Paul calls it a serious sin. Churches today must recognize that unity is not optional; it is a gospel issue.
Paul outlines a clear process for dealing with this issue: warn, warn again, and separate if unrepentant. Churches should not skip steps, even when we are tempted to avoid confrontation out of fear or rush to separate without patience. Discipline must be carried out with love, prayer, and humility.
It is also important to remember that not everyone who disagrees is divisive. Healthy discussion, even disagreement, can build the Church. The issue is those who display stubborn, unrepentant behavior that undermines unity. Leaders must exercise discernment and avoid labeling sincere questions as divisive.
It’s easy to point fingers at others, but we must also examine ourselves. Do we contribute to unity or division? Do we promote Christ or our own agenda? Paul’s words remind us that division often begins in prideful hearts.
The Church is called to unity in Christ, but division threatens that unity. Paul instructs Titus (and us) to deal with divisive people firmly but patiently: warn once, warn again, and if unrepentant, separate. Protecting the unity of the church is not optional; it is essential for the health of the body and the witness of the gospel. By following Paul’s guidance, we can guard that unity, preserve our witness, and reflect the heart of Christ, the one who gave His life to make us one.
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