Sunday, August 9, 2015

Christianity is Divisive

Christianity is Divisive
August 10, 2015
Luke 12:51  "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."

Christianity is divisive.  By saying this, it alone creates controversy.  We are to love one another, have mercy on one another, and forgive one another.  But we are also taught to live in this world yet not be of the world.  We are taught to stand firm to our convictions in the Lord, never denying Him and always denying ourselves.  We are taught to follow Him and do the Lord's work despite what the world believes or does.  We are taught to follow the Lord's standards for living regardless of the world's definition of those standards.  There are many dos and don'ts described in the Bible which the world believes these are arbitrary, especially if they are not harming someone else.  The world wants to pick and choose what they believe, live for, and abide by.  As Christians, we can't do this.  This creates divisiveness between those who are Christians and those who are not.

Jesus said something divisive.  He said, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."  Jesus was foretold as the one who would be bringing peace on earth to all mankind.  Yet Jesus tells us from His own lips that, "From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three."  Such dichotomy in Scripture.  Essentially, Jesus was saying there would be Christian and non-Christian.  Being a Christian would set you apart from those in this world, and your belief system would be in conflict with those around you, even in your own family.  He wasn't saying we should wage war against those in our family who do not believe as we believe, but that we must stand up for our convictions even if it means being disowned by those closest to us.  He absolutely did come to bring peace on earth for all mankind, but that peace is a state of settlement in our hearts, having our eternity secure in Heaven.  That peace is a restfulness in our relationship with the Lord, not a state of ease while living in this world.

As Christians, what we believe will be offensive to the world.  This isn't on purpose, but will naturally happen when those in the world want to live as they want to live, absent from the Lord's standards.  I was once asked about my political position on abortion and I resolutely stood against it.  To clarify the question, the questioner suggested that was my personal belief, not my political position on abortion.  Because of my Christianity, I cannot separate the two.  This creates divisiveness in the world.  My position on the physical age of those who can vote has nothing to do with my Christianity, because there is nothing in the Bible to suggest a voting age as a sin or not.  But my position on abortion is clearly spelled out for me in the Bible, therefore I cannot change that position, political or not.  This is where Christianity becomes divisive.  I will be divided against those who believe abortion is a viable option.  If it is disgusting in the Lord's eyes, it should be disgusting in my eyes.

This gives you the opportunity to evaluate where you stand.  The world famous pastor, T.D. Jakes, is quoted as saying recently that his position on homosexuality has evolved and is evolving. He said that LBGT's have a right to find their own church that fits their own belief system.  The Bible never once suggests we were allowed to pick and choose our beliefs in what Jesus taught.  You are free to make up your own religion but you are not free to make up your own version of Christianity and still call it Christianity.  We are either for Him or against Him.  There is no buffet where you get to cherry pick your verses out of the Bible.  If you stand with the Lord, you will naturally find yourself in direct opposition to the world on more than one issue.  Stand with the Lord, however; that is my recommendation, because the Lord wins in the end.

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Mark 13:13, Luke 12, Luke 21:19, 1 Cor 10:12, 2 Cor 1:21, Eph 6:14

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