A house divided
Day 290, Wednesday, May 28
Mark 2:18 – Chapter 3
Today’s reading is a collection of events and parables from the teachings and travels of Jesus, without any real unifying theme.
To pick one out that seems kind of timely, though, I’d like to look at 3:22-30, where the teachers of the law accuse Jesus of driving out demons through Satan’s power.
Jesus responds by asking them how Satan could drive out Satan. “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”
We’re all familiar from American history with Abraham Lincoln applying this scripture to the nation during the Civil War. Its application to modern-day United States is also obvious.
It’s more significant, though, to apply it to the church.
The Christian church is, as it has always been, divided into groups and factions that disagree on how (or even if) the Bible should be applied in our day and age. While this is a bad thing, it’s not unique to our day and isn’t likely to change.
What can change, though, is how we respond to it.
There seems to be a tendency even among Christians to highlight the worst aspects of the Christian church and apologize for what is wrong to the exclusion of celebrating what is right.
Yes, there is division and we can’t ignore it, nor should we try to. But it should be treated as the unfortunate distraction it is, and not allowed to be the focus of our consideration of the church. A house fully divided against itself cannot stand, but a house partially divided against itself can still stand, even if damaged, if it has a strong enough foundation, and we must never forget that the foundation the church is built on is Jesus Christ, who is divided neither from himself or from the Father and the Holy Spirit.
As residents of the Texas coast, we’ve all been taught since early childhood how to protect ourselves from storms: stay close to the foundation in the sturdiest room available. It’s also good advice spiritually.
Wednesday meditation
Proverbs 28:27-28
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Prayer focus
Dear Lord, protect your house from the divisions that threaten to tear it apart.
-Rev. Mark Fleming