Luke

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NASB	Luke 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;
AMPLIFIED 2015	Luke 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers]; [Matt 10:34-36]

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Bible Question (short): Are we bringers of peace or division?

Question (full): Dear Forum:

On Wednesday nights at our church we have been studying the Beatitudes, and we just examined the words of Jesus:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
--Matthew 5:9.

We also see in other places in Scripture which highlight peace:

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."
--John 14:27

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace"
--Romans 8:6

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
--Romans 12:18

The book 1 Peter also has a great deal to say about promoting peace in the midst of adversity.

Now we come to verses like the one I cited as the reference for this question. The Prince of Peace Himself says that He came not to bring peace, but division. The parallel passage in Matthew 10:24 uses the word "sword" in place of division. We can also see that the very preaching of Jesus did nothing to promote peace with the Pharisees. The preaching of the gospel in Acts helped the apostles find their way to a jail cell and to martyrdom. We even see in more recent church history how the Protestant Reformation, in recovering the true gospel of Christ has led to all kinds of horrendous acts. Some in our nation today even tell us that peace can only be attained if we never talk about religion, because it is a "private thing" that only creates trouble. The proclamation of biblical Christianity is primarily the "culprit" of such divisiveness.

So, let's dwell on this a while: how can we be both promoters of peace and present a gospel which has always served to divide people (as indeed Jesus Christ claimed to do)?

--Joe!

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