The answer
St. John Chrysostom says, “If therefore we desire to have the benefit of that Spirit which is from the Head, let us cleave one to another. For there are two kinds of separation from the body of the Church; the one, when we wax cold in love, the other, when we dare commit things unworthy of our belonging to that body; for in either way we cut ourselves off from the ‘fullness of Christ.’ But if we are appointed to build up others also, what shall not be done to them who are first to make division? Nothing will so avail to divide the Church as love of power. Nothing so provokes God’s anger as the division of the Church. Yes, though we have achieved ten thousand glorious acts, yet we shall, if we cut to pieces the fullness of the Church, suffer punishment no less sore than they who mangled His body.”333
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
333 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 11 (NPNF I/13:106).