Way Truth Life Apologetics

(original post 6 Jul 2020)

   It does not take a genius to see that America, and especially American Christendom, is divided. Some of these divisions are small, like cracks on the sidewalk, while others are huge, like the Grand Canyon. We are divided along lines of politics, family, social-cultural issues, theology / doctrine, gender, patriotism, etc. If you can name it, there are at least two people who disagree about it. As a people, we bicker and argue too much; even the slightest disagreement triggers an outburst. We throw up walls for differing ideas: conservative vs liberal (politically and theologically), pro-life vs pro-choice, anti-police vs pro-police…there seems to be no end to how people can and will vehemently differ on a given issue.

   Abraham Lincoln famously gave a speech referred to as “House Divided.” How many realize that the concept and phrasing was drawn from the Bible? “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ~Mark 3:25” Jesus gave this response when some in the crowd accused Him of doing miracles by being demon possessed. The teaching behind this statement is one with universal application.

   When we look at how dysfunctional the US government is, divided along political party lines, it’s no wonder Congressional approval ratings are at all-time lows, that gridlock plagues the legislative body of government, and that people are upset and in a state of unrest. When we hear something we disagree with declared from a pulpit, hanging around the office, a post on social media, etc. we are so quick to put defenses up, speak our mind, and in some instances write the other person / people off altogether.

   My aim here is to get at the heart of the issue of division, not to point fingers or lay blame. There is more than enough to go around and to do so does not move us closer to any sort of resolution. If I were to point a finger, it goes all the way back to just after the beginning of everything. Gen 1:1 declares that “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” For those who know Scripture, Satan was an angel who rebelled against God, bringing 1/3 of the angels with him when he was kicked out of Heaven.

   Some verses in Isaiah 14 speak to Satan’s rebellion and the division it brought in Heaven. In Genesis 3, we find how Satan sows division between God and man by tempting Adam and Eve to disobey God. Throughout Scripture, we find account after account where someone rebels against God’s command(s) and the result is some element of division. David was not leading his army as king, lusted after a married woman, had her brought to him, tried to cover up the pregnancy that resulted by calling the woman’s husband from battle to be home with his wife, and when that didn’t work out he sent the man back to battle with his own death warrant in hand (2 Sam 11). David’s several instances of rebellion brought division between himself and his army, Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah and his life, and eventually between David and his own family, as well as his kingdom.

   Sin is ultimately the cause behind division. Sin is rebellion against God, and knowingly or unknowingly, we all do it. Christians and non-Christians alike, we have times where we choose ourselves, our own selfishness, our own desires rather than the things of God. Sin brought division between God and His creation, between God and Adam & Eve, between Adam and Eve themselves.

   Sin is the ultimate plague that humanity faces. Racism is bad. However, when we understand that God created one race, the human race, and that skin tone, nationality, language, culture, etc. show the diversity of God’s creativity, it becomes easier to see each other as kin with common ancestry beginning with Adam and Eve, and furthering through Noah’s three sons and their wives—everyone alive today descends from one of those three families, Shem, Ham, Japheth. Sadly, there are some in society who thrive in the division, disharmony, and strife within the culture and nation. They are so thrilled and consumed by it that they promote things which sow division and further the cause. I’m willing to be if these individual did some searching, they will find their hearts are twisted with sin and sinful desire.

   What I’m ultimately trying to get at is this: sin is an issue of the heart. It is extremely easy to be proud, arrogant, and self-serving. What is unnatural is to be kind, loving, compassionate, and caring towards everyone! We all have experiences and prejudices which affect how we think and respond in a given situation. We tend to promote our way of thinking above that of another and most times we listen to respond to a person, not listen to hear them. Reacting is easy, empathizing is hard. Criticism is easy, understanding is hard. Vilifying is easy, befriending is hard. We are in a mode of self-preservation and as long as that mindset prevails, division will exist because the “self” is prone to sin. Perhaps that is why Jesus declared we must die to self (Mark 8:34-38) in order to truly know and experience unity! I’m thankful that God didn’t choose to leave us without hope! Instead, He foresaw the troubles ahead and the divisions we would face, so He sent Jesus to give us hope, restoration, and unity. That is the heart of the Gospel message!

~In Christ!