“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)
The words of Jesus regarding the division the gospel brings are particularly poignant in these modern times. Today families, friends, and neighbors differ over politics and religious beliefs, often violently. What many today consider political issues or questions of civil rights are really matters that the Lord is concerned with. What many demand today is the right to live as they please, do whatever they think is right and good, rights guaranteed, they maintain with great confidence, by the constitution of this nation. Their rights trump every other consideration even if it means others are abused or maligned for differing opinions.
Such demands, however, bring them into conflict with the Kingdom of God. The divide which Jesus speaks of in the gospel however, is a spiritual one. This divide concerns how we view Him, what He has done for mankind, and how He wants us to live, for He is what separates humanity. He calls all to come to Him in repentance and faith but many will not for it means losing their lives. So they will not only not follow Him, but will persecute those who do.
What Jesus desires of His followers is righteousness, obedience, and selflessness expressed in words and deeds of compassion and love towards others. The right to live as we please is not an aspect of the heavenly Kingdom. We disciples of Jesus have grace given to us and salvation guaranteed by faith in Him. We are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus, to lose our life for His sake, to live according to His will and commands, to give aid and comfort to our fellow disciples and even those who set themselves against us and Him. All the time we must war against the temptations of our flesh and the influences of our worldly culture and social norms all conveyed by the media. We will be hated, scorned, abused and persecuted by others as we follow Jesus. Yet we can rejoice and know that such scorn for the sake of the gospel of Jesus indicates that we are walking in the will of the God the Father Almighty.