By Chris Chambers
Pastor, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Brush Creek
Focal Passage: Mark 3:23-35
Jesus says in Mark 3:24-25, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” What divides us today?
Politics, social agendas and religion are all issues that cause a massive divide in our homes, our nation and our world.
What is the root cause of all of those divisions? Sin. More specifically, pride. We want what we want and we want to be right regardless of the issue or the situation.
We are looking out for ourselves many times before we are looking out for others. We are right to oppose policies and ideologies of sin, but we should do so in a Christ-like manner.
Most of us will remember the day this nation was untied quicker than any other day in recent memory.Sept. 11, 2001 brought unity to the country in less than 24 hours.Churches were full on a Tuesday night as we sought comfort and answers together. That unity has long since faded.
What can unite us today? Another tragedy like 9/11 would probably do it, but should we hope for that? Of course not.
The greatest unifying force today is the same as it has always been —Jesus Christ. When we place Christ at the center of our lives, He unites us. In verse 35, he says, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” In other words, we are untied as part of His family.
Chris Chambers
Families can be dysfunctional and divided. But, many times those families do not have Christ at the center. When men and women come into a right relationship with Christ, they are ready for a right relationship with others.
The shed blood of Christ unites those who have placed their faith in the salvation offered by Christ through His death, burial and resurrection like no other blood relationship can. We are doing God’s will when we accept His grace through our faith.
Keeping the biblical view of Christ at the center should unite churches in moments when decisions about worship style, carpet color or service times become sticking points.
When more major issues arise, making sure Christ remains at the center ensures a church remains united. A divided church cannot stand.
How can we expect the nation to unite when the church is dividing over secondary issues or worse, issues that clearly compromise biblical teaching?
When we place Christ at the center of our families, churches, politics and social issues, we can expect Him to unite us. Yes, He is the most divisive person who has ever lived, but, that is because too many people have not humbled themselves to the point where they have acknowledged Him as their Lord and Savior.
They have not accepted that there is no other way to a restored relationship with their Creator.
Christ and the gospel unites all when they are our center. B&R
