Living in Division ~ Luke 12:49-56 ~ Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Shortly after my wife and I moved to the area, I visited a nearby franchise discount hair salon. 

As the female hair stylist began cutting my hair, she said nothing.  So I began engaging her in small talk—which eventually led to her asking me what I did for a living.  I answer that I’m a pastor, and she says “oh.”  Then silence. 

After about a minute or two, she says, “I hope you’re not offended by my silence.  We’re not allowed to talk about religion or politics with customers.”

I answered that I wasn’t offended at all—nor was I surprised.  It never ceases to amaze me how two persons can be engaged in the most wonderful conversation—and once the conversation turns to politics or religion comes up, the persons become worst enemies.  That’s just the way it is anymore…

Our country is engaged in a bitter civil war of beliefs, ideals, and convictions about what our country should be like, and the direction we should be pursuing.  We’re split on just about everything of Living in Divisionimportance to the life and future of our nation: from Social issues, economic issues, global issues, security issues, justice issues, to the role of government…

If this wasn’t bad enough, the scourge of division infects the Christian faith.  You have one side saying, “the Bible teaches this;” while the other side says “Jesus would have us do that…”

How glorious it would be if Jesus were to tell us that we can live completely at peace with others while at the same time living at peace with him.  But that will never be the case.  Today in our gospel, Jesus warns us in no uncertain terms that a life of discipleship will inevitably bring the pain of division—even in the relationships we have with those closest to us.  Jesus will be both the subject of division as well as the cause of division.  Peace with God will often come at the price of peace with even those closest to us. 

The reason for this is simple—we live in a world that is in a state of rebellion against God, and we ourselves are no exception to the rule.  Sin turns all of us against God and neighbor. 

But Christ transforms our existence to live differently from everyone else…

Instead of seeking instant gratification, we are patient.  Instead of looking out for number one, we look out for our neighbors.  Instead of returning evil with evil, we forgive.  Instead of pursuing the good life through social and economic prosperity, we receive a life of peaceful trust in God.  Instead of doing for ourselves what feels good, we do good to others.  Instead of living for what is visible, we live for what is invisible…

Therefore, it is inevitable that we find ourselves at odds with others. 

Yet division is also an inevitable consequence of a changing world—and the challenges those changes present.  Change and challenge ruin the sense of what we call “normal life,” and we become desperate and afraid.  There will be some who say that the solution to the challenge is change.  Others will say that the solution to the challenge is to fight back against the change, and preserve what was before.  Yet even those who argue for change will seldom agree on what the changes should be.  It is possible even for Christians to have drastically differing social, political, and economic convictions—and even differing convictions on the mission of the church—fully believing that the Bible supports their conviction, sometimes even over and against all others.  Once again, Jesus will be both the subject of division as well as the cause of division. 

Divisions and finger-pointing become the inevitable result.  So what do we do?

First of all, we must never treat division as something desirable, even as Jesus holds up division as a sign of the dawning of God’s Kingdom.  Division may be inevitable, but it is none less tragic.  Division is bad, because Jesus wants us to leave at peace with all people, as much as that is possible.  We are to live at peace with others—even if it means that we don’t get our way.  We must love people more than our convictions.  We must listen to them, to learn why they do what they do and why they believe as they believe.  We must honor the person, even if we cannot accept what they believe and how they live. 

We don’t need to create enemies, because there is one common enemy: and that enemy is Satan.  That enemy is poverty; it is disease; it is hunger; it is the power of sin that is alive inside of us all.

When we find ourselves at odds with our sisters and brothers in Christ, we must preserve the bond of unity that is ours as human beings and as members of the Body of Christ.  Different though we are in our personalities, our gifts, our needs, and even our beliefs, our diversity enriches the Body.  We are one people, of one faith, one birth, and one hope.  Never underestimate how simple love; simple grace; simple forgiveness can heal relationships and help us to live at peace even with people who say things and do things and believe things we believe are outrageous.

But if it comes to pass that you cannot walk with Jesus and remain in a relationship with those to whom you’ve come at odds, it may in fact be time to end the relationship.  If peace with others keeps you from living in peace with Christ; if there is no hope of reconciliation, if forgiveness cannot heal the hurt, then it is time to depart in peace. 

Schisms, divisions, and broken relationships are some of the greatest tragedies we’ll ever experience in life.  But the good news is that when you suffer the loss of valuable relationships; when the people you love turn against you and you’re all alone; when this maddening world feels like an impossible place to live;  you belong to Jesus Christ.  You are baptized—and because of that, God will never call you an enemy and be disgusted by you, even when your sin is enormous and others cannot forgive you.  And someday, Jesus will heal us of the rifts and take away the hurts that cut us off from one another.  By God’s grace, we will one day live in the total peace of God, at peace with each other.