Voices: Territoriality—Why Baptists can struggle to get along

Why can Christians who share almost everything in common—theologically and otherwise—be so divisive with each other?

This divisiveness seems to be the opposite of assumptions made about people who share much in common. If there is so much in common, shouldn’t there be more unity and less conflict?

Unfortunately, unity and lessened conflict do not always happen. What often is happening in these situations is what’s known in the animal kingdom as “territoriality.”

When we act like animals

If you have watched a nature show about a pride of lions, you probably have seen an outside male lion approach the pride and the dominant pride male defend the pride against the approaching male.

What you are watching in these scenes is territoriality. Animals will defend their area against others, especially against those of the same species they deem a threat. They may defend their area with their own threats—specific noises, marking an area and/or displays of strength—or violence. Whatever the case, the most intense reaction usually is directed against animals of the same species.

Thomas Oden, in his Classical Christianity: A Systematic Theology, notes this concept of territoriality and how it can show up among Christians who share much in common: “There seems to be a law of inverse cohesion among orthodox people, theologically analogous to the biological principle of territoriality: the closer two orthodox theologians get to one another’s positions, the more reaction there is between them” (p. 320).

If Oden is correct—and I believe he is—this theological territoriality may help explain why people who agree on so much can struggle with unity.

What often happens is the closeness results in a kind of reactivity between people and groups as the often seemingly minor differences escalate into perceived threats. When that happens, those minor differences and perceived threats become the focus, and fighting ensues as each group looks to attack and defend.

This phenomenon becomes a vicious cycle of attack and defense, with each side feeling justified in their attacks and defensive about feeling attacked.

You don’t have to look far to see this happening periodically in Baptist life. Baptist churches and denominations that share much in common will turn on each other in a vicious cycle of attack and defense, with each of the sides believing they are in the right.

This cycle also creates “winners” and “losers,” which can leave people feeling prideful about their victory or wounded by their defeat. What is lacking in this vicious cycle is a witness of love and a healthy, God-honoring working through differences.

What can Baptists do?

How can the idea of territoriality help Baptist Christians in our struggles for unity?

There are instances when there is little actual agreement on substantive issues, and a separation is needed. Those circumstances are different from what I am addressing here.

First, we can have a better sense of what is happening when there is intense reactivity among people who seemingly agree on most everything. Such recognition can help break the reactive cycle of attack and defense that escalates conflict at the expense of fostering an opportunity for love and godly conflict resolution. It can help us learn to listen better to each other’s concerns and discern opportunities for clarification, correction and direction.

Second, understanding territoriality also may help defuse the pride that often accompanies these conflicts, as one side perceives itself to be in the right and the other side to be an enemy that needs to be defeated.

Third, it may provide clarity in the complexity of conflict. For example, these conflicts can involve the complex issues of power, personalities, egos, distribution of resources, protection of heritage or tradition, disagreement over what theological issues are essential, influence of national politics and others. Sometimes, though, these conflicts are not as complex as we think; sometimes, they may be as simple and clear as the reactivity associated with territoriality.

Finally, by recognizing this phenomenon, maybe we can begin to discern a better path than the one that keeps playing itself out in conflicts among Baptists. In so doing, I believe God will be glorified.

Ross Shelton is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Brenham. The views expressed are those solely of the author.