Word to the Wise
Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 3rd Week of Lent - Thurs
[Jer 7:23-28 and Luke 11:14-23]"This is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself has vanished from their speech." [Jeremiah] "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.." [Luke]
The words of Jesus about a divided kingdom, spoken to Jewish religious authorities about his power to cast out demons, were "accommodated" by Abraham LIncoln in his famous "House Divided" speech about slavery. But these same words could describe a principle enshrined (but variously interpreted) in the U. S. Constitution: separation of Church and State! In Jesus' day, such an idea would have been incomprehensible! Religious faith was THE governing power. Ethnic identity was the "state." "Proof of citizenship" was physical: male circumcision. Remnants of this are seen today in countries where the Koran is the fundamental law. Catholicism has shown a similar attitude in the past. In India, tension between Moslem and Hindu interests boils over regularly into violence.
The "separation" in question seems more to me like the separation a parent makes between kids fighting. It is really more like a "cease-fire" agreement of which each party continually accuses the other of breaching. What would Jeremiah say to us who pledge allegiance to a country "under God" and act as if God has nothing to do with it? The word "polarization" has become the descriptive term for our culture, except that there are more than two "poles" in controversy.
Jesus' life and preaching had political consequences. The charge against him was that he was preaching insurrection by preaching a "kingdom" other than the Roman one. The refusal of early Christians to offer incense to Caesar got them thrown to the lions! Which "kingdom" do we serve? Right now, in our own country, that question is becoming more and more relevant! AMEN