Division
Nothing causes people to take sides more quickly than labels.
And Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke 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 his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” - Mark 3:19-35
Because Jesus has the power to overcome evil, he must be evil. How far can you stretch that logic?
Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick. If others did that or something similar, would they be labeled evil as well?
Does the fireman who rescues the child from the burning building have power over the flames? Is the woman who comforts her sick husband and helps him overcome his fear of dying evil or does she have control over death?
Our nation is like the house divided that Jesus talks about because we have all decided to label one another as evil for what we say, how we act, where we live, who we vote for, what we do for a living, and even what we look like.
You might think Satan is having a field day.
Jesus said those who gather around me and know me as I am, rather than by some label, are my family. Everyone else is not.
That may sound divisive as well, but isn't that how we react to accusations and labels, by surrounding ourselves with those we love and those who love us?
If anything is worse than the Civil War, it is the division that we are now facing in this great land of freedom, that threatens to tear us apart and set us against one another.
In our efforts to destroy ourselves, we will succeed, and Satan will be laughing.
More to come...