James 4:1 says, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” This is not a surprise. Where there are people, there will be quarrels. Too many times we allow our human nature to come through and let our desires reign in our relationships. This can especially happen in churches if they do not protect against it. The devil wants nothing more than to destroy your congregation.
When you get too many people together who are governed by their own desires, you will see division begin to happen. That is why it is so important in churches to guard against anything that would lead to division. There have been churches who have split over little things such as music, The business of the church, and leadership. Sometimes, it is even as little as whether to have chairs or pews in the sanctuary. Seems silly, right? Well, this is what happens when people allow themselves to give into their own desires instead of the will of the Lord. Petty arguments can lead to dissension, which can lead to bitterness, and divide churches. It happens in families all the time. As a pastor, my husband sees this sometimes after a loved one has passed away. Their family members began to fight and argue about belongings and inheritance. Before you know it, another family is torn apart.
These things can happen because we are human. This is why we have to think with our spiritual nature instead. We must come together as a body of Christ and pray and ask God for his direction rather than leaning on our own.