Division Cannot Stand

It is easy to get wrapped up into the political frenzy ‘of the day’ no matter what side of the aisle you stand. Today’s frenzy is tomorrow’s silliness. When it comes to politics, you will always find yourself changing sides. You change not because you changed, but because your side changed. That is the nature of politics. That is not the nature of the Church.

Ever since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Delight, humanity has been in conflict with the Satan. He lurks around every turn and within every generation. Today’s temptation is yesterday’s childishness. Today’s frenzy is tomorrow’s forgotten agenda. Yet unlike politicians, Satan never changes sides. He is always against us and always working to defeat us. Satan is always trying to divide us.

At that time, Jesus came to a home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, “He is beside himself.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house.”

Mark 3.20-27

When Jesus was healing and ministering to huge crowds and gaining popularity among the ‘common folk’ the Jewish leaders felt He needed to be stopped. They lied about Jesus to the crowds, but some believed their lies. It was easier for some to think that Jesus was working with Satan rather than against Him. The people were forced to ‘take sides’ and choose between Jesus and the Jewish Leaders.

When you find yourself being asked to choose between Jesus and anyone else, run! Jesus Christ is Lord, He is God. He is our savior! Jesus never changes sides, and He is always trying to save us. He is the complete opposite of Satan.

Such is the life of every Christian. We struggle daily to choose sides. Sometimes it is clear we are choosing Christ. Other times, it is more confusing because our ego gets in the way. Sometimes we think we are choosing Christ when we are really choosing ourselves. This happens when we rationalize our behavior to avoid repentance. If we tell ourselves we are on the side of Jesus, then we think our behavior must also be on His side.

The Jewish Scribes and Pharisees thought they were doing God’s work because their ego got in the way. Christ told us this would happen. “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (John 16.2) It happened then, and it can happen now.

As a follower of Be Transfigured Ministries, you know the world has more than 45,000 denominations. One thing every denomination has in common is, every denomination believes they have the only correct answer to salvation. If you think a few divisions in the Corinthian Church were bad (1 Corinthians 1.13) in the first century, then you should be scandalized at the reality of 45,000 denominations. Christians are more divided now than ever before.

Unity in the ancient Church was a primary goal following the desire of Christ. “That they may be one just as We are one.” (John 17.22) There is only one side in the battle for salvation. The Church is fighting on Christ’s side. Choose the Church, and you are choosing Christ. Choose against the Church, and you are choosing division which cannot stand.