Satan's House

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 

For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Luke 11:14-23)

"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house,” and “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."  These are two familiar expressions.

The first is what happens when we refuse to compromise and seek common ground.  It is a zero-sum approach.  When we think a situation is zero-sum, we will be more likely to act competitively (or less cooperatively) towards others, because we will see others as a competitive threat.

When we believe there is a zero-sum competition in society for resources like jobs, we will be less likely to hold pro-immigration attitudes (because immigrants would deplete the resource). Zero-sum thinking may also lead to social prejudices. 

American government and even religious institutions tend to have zero-sum thinking.  If this continues, we face being laid waste and a fall.  We continue to be adversaries promoting distrust and fear.  We will remain divided and scattered.  

Lent is a time for unity and driving out the demons of fear, hate, suspicion, envy, and pursuit of power and control.  If we don’t, when Holy Week arrives, Satan’s house will still be standing.

Deacon David Pierce