Some truth taught in Scripture, some part of the Divine revelation is apprehended, and the heart responds to it and accepts it. As it is dwelt upon, expounded, defended, its power and beauty increasingly influence those affected by it.
Another side of truth, another view of revelation, also contained in Scripture, seems to weaken, even to contradict the truth that has been found to be so effectual, and in jealous fear for the doctrine accepted and taught, the balancing truth is minimised, explained away, even denied. So on a portion of revelation, on a part of the Word, a sect is founded – good and useful because it preaches and practices divine truth, but limited and unbalanced because it does not see all the truth, nor frankly accept the whole of Scripture. Its members are not only deprived of the full use of all the Scripture, but are cut off from the fellowship of many saints who are less limited than they, or limited in another direction.
There is reason to regret the divisions of the Lord’s people, for their underlying, essential unity is obscured by these outward apparent divisions. Yet liberty in the churches to emphasise what they have learned and experienced is of greatest value, and even the sectarian conflicts between churches zealous for different aspects of truth have led to much searching of Scripture and discovery of its treasures. When this goes on in such a way as to endanger love, the loss is great; nevertheless, worse than sectarian strife is uniformity at the cost of liberty, or reunion made possible by indifference.
E.H. Broadbent (1931)