Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:14-23 ESV)
Whoever does not gather with me scatters and is not with me and is against me… Jesus says this to the people gathered here. He also says a house divided against itself can not stand.
Wow! What does this say for His body? Are we united in the mission He gave us or are we divided over petty differences that keeps the world from seeing Him and the relationship He wants to have with them?
We are all in this together and when we quibble over petty things like age of baptism and who is allowed at the communion table and which sin is worse than another is there any reason why the world would want to be a part of this community? We are so busy fighting over the things that don’t ultimately matter we are getting in the way of the light shining to the people and we are scattering them away from God.
So think about the next time you want to argue with a brother or sister about the right way to do something in the church ans think about how that will effect those who do not know Him. We are to live our neighbors and the world so that they might see how much He loves them.
Stop scattering and love the world!
aSacredRebel 