I have seen this in post on other forums and in my own personal life. For example there is alot being written and said about leaving the institutional church. It is very interesting to see how these people who have left the “group” have begun to form their own group and how those who do not strictly fit into what they are preaching at the time, well they are scorned and pushed away. Of course this can be seen in many other examples throughout life which to me speaks volumes to what Jesus was eluding to his teachings.

We seem to get a glimmer of understanding and begin to pursue that sliver of truth and it becomes a group or ministry or theology and so on. That opening of understanding given by the Spirit once again becomes lost or hidden. I wonder why this continually happens? I am speaking in a broad sense from my own observation, this observation of course has its exceptions. Maybe the confusion of the issue of belonging to the group comes from a clouded view of what love really is. Do we not equate popularity with love and acceptance, and being alone with rejection and a lack of love? Could this be what Jesus was trying to teach us, He wanted us to see the true meaning of love?
Just a thought…

“The horrendous energy that we’re all feeling, and the possibility of turning it into more violence, and revenge, we can stop that. We can take that energy and turn it into something else. We can turn it into compassion, and to love, and to understanding.”

It’s a startling thing to hear people boo “compassion, love, and understanding,” but I think this is a good example of the kind of going-against-the-grain Jesus calls us to.

Brian

If you don’t understand this passage… try showing love to someone that a friend or family member hates. Whether it has to do with race, class, past misunderstandings, what have you. I have seen people I thought I knew become irrational with anger because I refused to dislike or shun someone because they didn’t like them or approve. Showing love to one’s enemies can seriously divide a family and break a friendship.

It also sheds some real light on ‘out of the heart, the mouth speaketh.’

The sword is the words and actions of Jesus that will divide the church, pitting the church and it’s family members against each other and eventually destroying it. Jesus’ message is one of peace, but not peace at no cost. There is always a sacrifice, hence the crucifixion. I don’t think it’s about violence as much as it is about shattering the belief system held by the people at that time.