Why are Presbyterians so prone to splits? I agree that the system of presbyterial government is founded on and agreeable to the word of God, but you do wonder what causes such fragmentation.
Obviously answering this question poses no risk of opening a can of worms!
I think it's worth
questioning whether Presbyterians are, pound for pound, more likely to split than Baptists or other groups. But whatever a good comparative study might reveal, a proneness to division in any group arises from a combination of several factors. Obviously one large and correct answer is "sin," but more than that can be said.
1. Wherever there are decided convictions about a multitude of matters, there will be that many more demands on charity and patience. In an environment where no one cares about details of doctrine, or worship practices, or government, many of those occasions for disagreement pass by unnoticed. The lack of conflict or division there doesn't necessarily arise from greater holiness, but simply from obliviousness.
2. Agreement about distinctives sometimes masks defects of character. If another fellow and I are both zealous for many of the same points, and yet one or both of us is just contentious, we will find something to contend about eventually. I think this is one reason why very "like-minded" groups sometimes blow up suddenly.
3. A strong emphasis on the distinctiveness of Presbyterianism (or any variety) can lead to general principles of Christianity and indeed of common sense being overlooked or neglected. Then the reality of a broader context with some really important shared commitments and some genuine good to be grateful for is missing.
4.
Idealists in temperament have to deal with continual frustration about reality, and that wears people down over time unless they learn to walk by faith and trust that God will bring about an ideal end through what seems like a very imperfect process.
When I speak in this way, I can anticipate that some readers may get the perception that I think the solution is to care less for precision and correctness, to dilute zeal, and to be more pragmatic. But that isn't what I mean at all. Instead, I think the prescription is that we need to expand our convictions and zeal to include all that the Lord teaches. It's true that many don't have any zeal for some of the Bible's content; but the answer is not for us to focus our zeal exclusively on those neglected portions of Scripture. If I am as zealous for humility and charity as I am for my distinctive doctrine and practice, then what division happens is more likely to be truly necessary.
Now there are some factors that may add pressure in Presbyterian circles (though they will apply in many other circles as well).
5. Presbyterianism gives something to split from--you can find someone to blame.
6. Presbyterianism keeps congregations involved in one another's affairs, which gives interfering busybodies an opportunity to ply their trade.
7. Presbyterianism has mechanisms to resolve differences, but then disagreements about the implementation of the mechanisms can lead to fresh waves of conflict.
This also is not to attack Presbyterianism as a system of church government. If Scripture can be wrested to our own destruction, so can practices commanded in Scripture.
