The Divisiveness Industrial Complex: Christian Unity and Truth at Risk

Why sound doctrine and biblical unity aren’t enemies—and why Christians must stop giving oxygen to division.

Years ago, President Eisenhower warned America about the “military-industrial complex.” His concern wasn’t just about defense spending. Instead, he warned that systems can entangle themselves in self-interest such that they prioritize influence and profit over virtue and principle.

Since then, we’ve borrowed that phrase for all kinds of toxic ecosystems. And we probably should for another: the Divisiveness Industrial Complex.

This one lives inside the church.

Big Eva and Big Diva

Sometimes we hear about the “evangelical-industrial complex”—an ecosystem of books, media, conferences, influencers, and institutions that might prize platform over discipleship. But that’s a topic for another day.

Here, I want to talk about a particular offshoot: the niche profiteering of Christian division—what I’ve started calling the Divisiveness Industrial Complex. Some pastors and leaders have made a name for themselves by segmenting the church into ever “purer” tribes. They segregate over second- or third-tier issues: the timing of the rapture, the gifts of the Spirit, Calvinism, or political ideology.

They write books. Host conferences. Publish YouTube reactions. Run Twitter/X accounts (sometimes anonymously). Film TikTok reels. And they love to tell you which Christians are “compromised” and which ones are “faithful.”

If the broader evangelical machine is “Big Eva,” then these merchants of division are an even more toxic ecosystem:

Big Diva.

(Sorry. I couldn’t resist.)

Jesus Prayed for Something Better

What’s tragic isn’t just the dividers themselves. It’s how much oxygen we give them.

Faithful Christians, pastors, and leaders too often align with these figures for the sake of some shared conviction—cultural, political, or doctrinal. But by sharing their content, appearing on their platforms, and preaching in their pulpits, they give air to division. Such alignment legitimates the dividers and amplifies divisiveness.

And Paul’s words to Titus are clear:

“Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10–11).

Division isn’t clever. Division isn’t brave. Division is sin.

And in case we forgot: on the night before Jesus was crucified, he prayed for both unity and truth (John 17):

Unity: “Holy Father, protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11).

Truth: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Spine and Skin

Truth and unity are not opposites—they’re integrated.

The image that helps me most is the human body. Specifically, the spine.

Some Christians say, “Straighten up!” Get a backbone. Have some conviction. And they’re right. We need to believe truth. But the “truthers” can treat the spine like a steel rod—unbending, inflexible, rigid. Ever seen someone who can’t bend their back? It’s an uncomfortable thing, and not God’s design.

Others say, “Soften up!” Be more loving. Like Buddy the Elf, they want to give you a hug. And they’re right. We need gentleness. But the “unifiers” can sacrifice truth for unity. They can remove the spine altogether. Skin without a spine leaves us with a jelly-blob.

Bones without skin. Skin without bones. Both are horror show stuff.

A healthy spine is strong and flexible. A spine stands the body upright, but it also moves, bends, and adjusts. And it only works when it’s wrapped in flesh.

Spine and skin. Flesh and bone. Truth and unity.

Sound doctrine without love is brittle. Unity without truth is squishy.

The Body of Christ needs both truth and unity, convinced tenderness and tender conviction. Harsh truth and squishy unity both defame the name of Jesus and his gospel.

The Narrow Way

The “truthers” often love Titus 2:1: “Proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.” But they can forget that Paul barely needed to re-ink his quill before he also wrote: “Reject a divisive person” (Titus 3:10).

Sound doctrine and biblical unity are two rails on the same track. Take either one away, and the train derails. Again, they are integrated and one without the other is grotesque. We must unite around truth, and love unity enough to reject division.

Some of you reading this are pastors. Some are leaders in organizations or churches. Most of you are faithful believers trying to follow Jesus in a fragmented world. Maybe you’re not the one dividing the Church. But if you give oxygen to the dividers, you’re helping keep the profits flowing to Big Diva’s accusation factories.

Be careful what your little eyes see and your little ears hear. Don’t get your discipleship from outrage. Don’t let your content consumption funnel you into the Divisiveness Industrial Complex.

We can love both sound doctrine and biblical unity.

We must love both sound doctrine and biblical unity.

Because Jesus does.

So let’s be the Body—bones and flesh, spine and skin—standing tall in truth, yielding in grace, united in Christ.