“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)

Those are radical words—and Jesus said them!

He went on to say, “…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 10:35-39)

These are difficult words to acknowledge because I love my kids dearly and my daughters-in-law are precious to me—and I know they all love Jesus.

However, in the past year and a half, I have seen and heard of (what I consider) crazy divisions in churches, communities, between friends, and within families over health concerns, particularly concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people will call it that, and many people will refuse to identify it as such. I’m not jumping in here on either side of the question. Whether to mask or not to mask; to vaccine or not to vaccine…

Radical polarization is becoming obvious—not a little bit south of the equator or a little bit north, but south pole, or north pole. And the chasm in between is as deep as the emotions that are digging it.

Such hatred, such vitriol, such a blatant use of guilt and shame to get others to come into line with our way of thinking. Curses and death threats, wishing or hoping people would die if what they think and believe contradicts or challenges what we think or believe. If you are on social media at all, then you have probably heard or read these types of comments. Even amongst Christians! Especially amongst Christians, a standardized response to how you are supposed to love your neighbor. …and if you don’t? Well, let the shaming begin!

But that isn’t Jesus.

Because “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

And “…as it is written, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion as stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.’” (Romans 9:33)

What has captured my thoughts and consideration is the demonic influence behind many of the words and the threats that are being spoken. It should be obvious, though I cannot comprehend how professing Christians can use threatening, intimidating, and hate filled speech. We might want to think about how we respond to people we disagree with and acknowledge the thoughts and attitudes which fuel the words that come out of our mouths and off our keyboards.

Here are some verses to consider when we are about to voice our opinions:

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)

“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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32)

As I’ve considered Jesus’ words in view of the radical divisions that have arisen and are arising in this country and around the world, I struggle to grasp how it can be that the One who gave up everything because of love, so that everyone who believes in Him can have peace with God [“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)], is the same One who said that He came not to bring peace, but a sword.

I love the conundrums of scripture, though, where one of the fruits of the Spirit is peace (Galatians 5:22) yet the Holy Spirit also speaking through the apostle Paul instructs us to prepare for battle: “Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God….” (Ephesians 6:14-17)

Peace with God doesn’t necessarily mean peace with people!

Yet, when emotions run high, and when the tensions of disagreement and conflict are palpable, it is at those times that we need to remember where the battle is taking place—in the spiritual realm [“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)]. So, then we take up the shield of faith, resisting fear, and arming ourselves with the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word, the Bible.

We’re not always going to get the responses from friends or family that we hope for; however, we always can be a testimony of the love and grace of Jesus Christ. We must listen through the filters of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God so that our faith doesn’t take hold of any other foundation than the one that stands firm.

“I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.” (Colossians 2:2-4)