Divided We Fall

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive 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; that is the end of him.  

But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man.  Then he can plunder his house.   Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." 

Our government shutdown is over – for a few weeks, perhaps.  Our kingdom is divided against itself.  Jesus said that sort of kingdom cannot stand.   Alarming but true words spoken by our Savior.

No one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man.  Our country is strong – and great – and it is being tied up through division promoted by the left and right.

We are guilty of everlasting sins and burdened by unclean spirits when we foster division and refuse to see the other side’s opinion, and respect it even if we disagree.  Forgiveness only comes when we seek the common good and the welfare of our country and all its people.

Let’s remember what Jesus said.   He warned us that when divided, we cannot stand, and that’s the end of us.

Deacon David Pierce