Woe To The Enabler - Luke 12:53

“They will be divided, father 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 mother-in-law.” - Luke 12:53

    One of the most controversial statements Jesus Christ ever made followed on the heels of His declaration - “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” - Luke 12:51. If this statement wasn’t contentious enough, He came right back with the words of division amongst the family. Many have found this to be highly objectionable due to the ramifications of such an attitude. It has even turned many away from the Christian faith. How could Jesus mean that He could easily countenance the break up of strong family ties? Obviously, Jesus was using it as an extreme example of how important it is to follow Him completely and without hesitation, even if it means disagreeing or parting with a family member. It is in many ways similar to Christ’s directive in Matthew 5:30 - “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” An extreme example again, but Christ is trying to warn us away from the ultimate cost of sin.
    We see this “family tension” everywhere in the world today. One brother follows Christ; the other disdains him for it. A sister is ostracized by her siblings for going to church. Then we see a mother worshiping on Sunday morning, reading her Bible during the course of the week, and attending Bible Study among those who share her “religion.” She is doubtless a dutiful woman. She prays for her children “religiously.” Yet despite her children’s crimes and misdemeanors, she caters to them and spoils them. She has religion; what she lacks is saving faith in Jesus Christ. She lacks the will to follow Christ’s imperative.
    I say she has religion rather than faith because religion is malleable enough to accommodate and tolerate that which God has condemned. Religion finds a way to accept and include the most flagrant forms of sinful behavior imaginable. Religion provides us with a way to accept the unacceptable, to turn a blind eye to the objectionable, and to entrench sin in both our lives and the lives around us. Religion makes room for sin. True saving faith in Jesus Christ does not, cannot, and will not ignore the sin that casts its shadow before us.
    Yes, he may be my son but true saving faith will not allow me to welcome his sinful lifestyle beneath my roof. If your idea of faith in God includes allowing sinners to bring their sinful practices into your home, I must question both your liberal definition of faith and your languid concept of the holiness of God.
    The Holy Bible is clear on these matters: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21. Saving faith will not tolerate such sin in our homes.
    It isn’t even an acceptable position of heart to maintain relations with those who would continually transgress God’s commands. It yolks us with them and the world they live in. “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” - James 4:4.
    We know what our Christian duty to Christ is. We are never to sacrifice obedience to God no matter who we are trying to keep close to our hearts. “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.” - Ephesians 5:11-12. The consequences we face for holding the line as Christians are nothing compared to the consequences we face if we falter.
    No, we don’t want to purposely distance ourselves from our families over petty differences but encouraging them in their sin holds a number of consequences that will have eternal repercussions. “If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.” - Ezekiel 3:18.