Praying for Agreement Through Christ in the Midst of Houses Divided

Years ago I met regularly with a group of local pastors to discuss upcoming sermons. I had some disagreements with a pastor in that group from a different congregation and different denomination. Often we had totally different ideas about how Jesus’ Church should act. We had different views on missions, different views on social issues dealing with God’s stated plan concerning human sexuality, and different views on how a person is saved. My wife heard my frustration, so at her suggestion, rather than talk about this younger pastor, I talked with him. We met for lunch to see if we could come to some agreement. We discovered that the root problem seemed to be a different understanding of what Scripture is. I believed, and still believe, that the Bible is the inspired word of God Himself, and is therefore the authority for what God’s church is to believe, and the authority for how God’s church is to act. His view was different. He listened to Scripture, but did not necessarily think it was the Word of God himself, nor that it was authoritative. No wonder we had so many disagreements.

I find that, when I disagree with someone, if we can find some area where we do agree, a “lowest common denominator,” we can build on that agreement and possibly find some way we might work together. That is my hope, and my intended practice. However, in my devotional readings on Sunday, August 28, the Gospel lesson was from Mark 3. Consider, please, Mark 3:22-26. “22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” 23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.”

Did you hear those words of Jesus? Abraham Lincoln heard Jesus and quoted Him. “24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Do you worry about God’s church? Does warning this sound familiar in regard to our country? I wish for agreement in my world and in my church. I also believe that our selfishness and sin will unfortunately continue to cause division in our world. And, perhaps the individual nature of a social media world causes more division.

I want to share with you two areas where I suggest we can all hopefully agree. First, every one of us have problems. We all have pain. We all suffer. I believe, and hope you see, that we can empathize with others who suffer, because we do. Christians believe that all suffering is a result of the rebellion of the human race against their Creator. Christians are among the rebellious, and have acted in selfishness, and have sinned. So, all Christians share with everyone else the reality of suffering and the problems in our world, problems which we helped to cause.

Secondly, everyone with trouble and suffering can use help. We cannot overcome these problems on our own. In truth, we need a savior for our sin. I believe, we all need God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus!

I met with the young pastor years later in a different part of Alaska. We were friendly, and even fished together. But, we found new areas where we had large disagreements because of different views on God’s word. Nevertheless, we were able to speak with one another. In the midst of our disagreement we recognized there were some areas of shared values and shared need. We treated each other in a friendly manner.

Remember the words of Jesus. “24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Division is deadly. Our shared suffering from sin, and our shared need for a Savior can form a “lowest common denominator.” I pray that the houses of our churches and our nation may not fall.