A house divided....

 

This post has been coming for a long time....

 

division...

I have searched God's word for wisdom. I have read of His mercy and love for all people. His great efforts to bring us into unity. And how we have, through the ages, repeatedly fallen short and been in opposition to each other, although we were created to work together.

 

I am certain God looks down at the division occurring in the  "church,"... read :"adoption community",  and weeps.

So much passion. So much time. So much energy. So much talent. So much purpose. All wasted. All coming against heaven. Gifts, talents and resources that could have gone into placing yet another of the fatherless into a forever family, drawing another soul into the Kingdom and illuminating the mercy and goodness of God and the Glory of The Lord as we allow Him to shine through us.

But if a house be divided against itself...Any family, small or great, that house cannot stand; its contentions and discords will soon bring it down from a comfortable and flourishing situation, to a distressed one...crippling it, possibly erasing it from existence altogether.  

 

We are all one body, His word reminds us its so. 

All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 
1 Cor. 12:27

He created us to need each other, to work together, to be community, brothers and sisters, family, in Christ Jesus. He created us to produce fruit in our lives that is evidence of the goodness that flows from heaven.

"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." Matthew 12:35-37


Mark 3:20-35
One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. "He's out of his mind," they said. But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, "He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons."

Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration...
"How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? How would never survive. 
Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger, someone who could tie him up and plunder his house.  I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences."  

Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, "Your mother and brothers are outside and asking for you." Jesus replied. "Who is my mother? Who is my brothers?" Then he looked at those around him and said, "Look, these are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." 

I encourage each of you to seek after Jesus Christ and find the answers for yourself in His Holy Word.
 
The scripture tells us to "avoid" those who cause division ...
Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for  "bad company corrupts good character." Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't know God at all.  1 Cor. 15:33-34 

But, instead of avoidance, the church has welcomed such and have even engaged in their  foolish debates, mindless arguments, and idle gossip.  By doing so, you have now yourself become participants of these spirits, and have fulfilled the will NOT of our Lord, but of Satan himself.  For these spirits have been sent for  the sole purpose of destroying the church and shaming the name of our Lord by the ungodly conduct of its members.  And the spirit of strive and division shall remain within the church as long as she refuses to REPENT and begin walking according to the Spirit.  For where there is LOVE, there shall be no existence of the negative works of the flesh.

Not only for the obedience to the Lord and for our own spiritual well being, but also we must be mindful that the world is watching. Our conduct is a representation of who we are in CHRIST. Shall we through our conduct make Him appear to be one who approves of strife, who welcomes division, who accepts arguments and disputes amongst His followers? Or, through our behavior reveal him to the world as one of love, peace, joy, hope, forgiveness, acceptance and unity.

Leaving you with the words of Paul...
And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upsets people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ the Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talking and glowing words that deceive innocent people. But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under his feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  Romans 16:17-20

I encourage each of you to seek the wisdom found in His word and the discernment and direction found in the Spirit and bring unity to our community. 

Shalom