Jesus said, "
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
What I believe Jesus is saying here directly pertains to His Jewish listeners, but also indirectly to us, which is that a family will be divided because some will choose faith in Him, the cross and some will remain in the "Jewish" system of temple worship of animal sacrifice, and Jewish rituals/tradistions. When a Jew becomes a Christian, the family shuns them, to the point that could lead to death of the Christian. It was a Jewish custom and law to "put out" and in some cases "put to death" the defector (someone who leaves their old faith or religion). The application can be made that whenever you have a non-believer and believer in the same household, contempt and division will arise. (Which is why Paul tells Christians not to marry an unbeliever, unequally yoked). Muslims will put out their sons and daughters if the son or daughter becomes a Christian. I have two non believing grownup stepsons living with me atm and we have division as well. Although I haven't "kicked them out" (yet), they sure cause disunity in the family, not only between me and them, but also to the point where my wife and I disagree on what disciplinary action need to be taken when they don't follow house rules.
Jesus came to restore the peace between God and the Individual, not between household members or people in general.
On the unity of the Church aspect of your post, I would add that Jesus prayed for unity for the believers. John 17;
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “I do not pray for these alone (disciples), but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word (future believers); 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,that the world may believe that You sent Me.22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
I ask you and all, how are we doing? It seems to me, That the world will know Christ when the Church grows up into a mature man. Paul talks about the church as a new man, Christ is the head, we are the body. Paul seems to say that this will be unity and growth of the church is what the church will be: Ephesians 4,
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
It is a shame, and looks bad to the world, when those who profess Christ act like children, bickering with one another about non essential things. But on a positive note, I went to the
Winter Jam 2015 in Columbus, OH, last Friday, and the speaker spoke on unity, saying how the whole stadium was filled with many denominations all over, but we here we are worshiping and making a joyful noise unto the LORD under one roof. Although I didn't care for the metal bands, Family Force 5 nor Skillet (lots of chaotic noise with no real message), the message (by Tony Noland) was powerful and all about the gospel of Christ. There were other music bands there as well who sung well and had an uplifting and Godly message (King and Country, Building 429, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli ). My point, I believe I felt and had a glimpse of this unity Paul and Jesus talked about.
Don't give up hope Blain, pray for unity of God people and our growing up to a perfect and mature man!!!
