The Gospel Divide

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 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. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10: 34-37)

"Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me." (Micah 7: 5-7)

Becoming a Christian does not make everyone love you. Most often, becoming a Christian inevitably brings the Christian into bitter family conflicts, and creates division and separation among the Christian's family, friends, and other social groups, and makes him an object of hate and scorn from his neighbors generally. It has become true, for nearly every true lover of God, that the foes to his religion come from his family and closest associates.

It was so with Jesus himself. His family at the first rejected him. "For neither did his brethren believe in him." (John 7: 5)

Jesus was the object of intense rejection all through his public life and ministry, from his family and friends, from his own nation, and from the public in general. Regularly Jesus met with ridicule.

"...they laughed him to scorn" (Matthew 9: 24).

"...they derided him" (Luke 16: 14 & 23: 35).

"...they had mocked him" (Matthew 27: 31).

Jesus is not alone in these experiences, for they are the common lot of his disciples. He warned:

"And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death." (Luke 21: 16)

And the Apostle Paul adds these words:

"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (II Timothy 3: 12)

Notice these experiences from the life of David and Job.

"Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us." (Psalm 44: 13 & 79: 4)

"Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves." (Psalm 80: 6)

"For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me." (Psalm 31: 10, 11)

"My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off." (Psalm 38: 11)

"Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children." (Psalm 69: 7, 8)

"Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth...Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness." (Psalm 88: 8, 18)

"He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body." (Job 19: 13 - 17)

This has ever been the lot of the disciple of Christ. Although he may intensely desire to see the conversion of his family and friends, and although he may actually see a few of them converted, yet the fact remains that most will reject the Christian and persecute him.

Some of these, as Jesus predicted, have even been put to death by their own family and friends. From the ones that formerly loved them, the Christian now receives "...trial of cruel mockings" (Hebrews 11: 36), as did their Lord.

Paul asked his hearers, as Jesus did also, in so many words - "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4: 16)

This is why becoming a Christian separates and divides the Christian from his former family and friends. He preaches the truth to them and they abhor it and make him out to be a "lunatic" or some evil and dangerous person, a "fanatic" and a "fool."

"If any man come to me, and hate (reject) not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 26)

Some have chosen to keep peace with friends and family rather than stay attached to the gospel, to Christ and his religion. The true believer, however, accepts Christ and his word, and if that means he has to reject the fellowship and admiration of his non-Christian family and friends, then he will do so.

How has Jesus created division in your family? How has becoming a Christian brought you into persecution? Know that such persecution is a proof of your status as a Christian and that you have great reason to rejoice, for "great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5: 12).

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6: 26)

"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled." (I Peter 3: 14)

"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you." (I Peter 4: 14)