The Great Divide

Matthew 10
 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

It is amazing to me that there are so many different views concerning the particulars of Christianity. Religion in general is such a personal subject, that we all get downright defensive about our beliefs and paradigms. I recently lost a friend due to these same principles. We just had major fundamental differences. Oil and water can't mix. Darkness and light can't coexist. Eventually, no matter how much affection one may have for a person, on the deepest level there will be a breakdown if there is not an agreement on important issues.

I have preached and taught that unity is what God truly blesses. He shows us that unity, whether godly or not, is a powerful force throughout Scripture. The tower of Babel, in the O.T. and the crowd shouting "Crucify Him!" in the N.T. come straight to mind. So unity cannot be the goal. Agreement with Scripture must be paramount in our hearts.

I have found that there is rarely, if ever, an argument in which both sides are right. There is almost always a correct view and an incorrect. No one wants to realize or acknowledge that they are the one who is wrong. So it winds up with a stalemate. Even though one may have proven a point, the other is unwilling to concede and remains belligerent. I think this is what Jesus was referring to in the Scripture above (which is a quotation from Micah 7:6). The Word of God is the only defender of Truth. We must base our entire world view upon the relevant Truths contained in it. But we are so stubborn naturally (at least I am) that we end up in an argument instead of an agreement with the Word.

My thought is, "Lord help me to allow your Word to govern my heart and mind". I don't want to argue my point against Scripture. At the same time, I don't want my relative experiences to taint what Scripture is truly saying. There is only one correct interpretation of Scripture. It is my job to discover and proclaim that. Not to shape "relative truth" , which is an oxymoron, around what I think is right.

Humility towards the Word of God is not just what divides friendships and families, it is what reconciles men to their God. Much more to say on this subject, but I'll save it for a later date. Be blessed!