"ZERO" Tolerance

"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls." (Luke 11:17)

I suppose a significant portion of Americans would credit Abraham Lincoln with those words from his famous speech, but it is actually Jesus who said that. It was in response to the thought of some among the crowd who had seen Him cast out demons who suggested it was by the power of Beelzebub that He did those things. Jesus says, Even satan is smart enough to know better than to be divided against himself.

As nearly as I can tell, the church is the only group of people that will schedule a monthly meeting to fight with one another. Worse than those brawls are the critical, divisive, and unfruitful words spoken in the halls, in the parking lots, over the telephones, and along chat lines of Christian people and church congregations.

As Paul wrote to the Ephesians he said, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (4:29). In fact, the failure to obey that opens the door to two problems for the church according to Paul. It grieves the Holy Spirit, so the church loses its source of power, and It gives the devil an
opportunity to work. It is time we recognize and PRACTICE a Zero tolerance of divisiveness among the people of God.