Kingdom Divided

If we are working against one another, how can we focus on working together?

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. - Luke 11:14-23

Normally, if we take a stand against something, people don't assume we support that thing or issue.  Instead, they believe we are against it, right?

But if we take a close look at the situation here, we can see how someone might come to the conclusion that Jesus ruled over demons, like the devil.

They listen to him.  He speaks to them from a position of strength, strength greater than theirs or their master.

We tend to assume that Jesus was a pacifist because he often spoke about peace, but he acted as one in charge, one who is in command of the situation, especially when it came to curing the sick and healing the lame.

If the enemy listens to us, people become suspect.  It is easier to assume we are in league with the enemy than to believe we exhibit strength that causes them to back down.

So, Jesus was assumed to be weak, when it came to strength from God, and strongly in control of demons.

In other words, he was evil in the eyes of those who believed God was with them.

This is a common human trait.  We do the same today.

More to come...