The Lord’s Message:  Toxic Jesus? Division Instead of Peace?

The Lord’s Message:  Toxic Jesus? Division Instead of Peace?
Date:  October 11, 2026
Where:  Tilghman Methodist Church
Scripture Reference:  Matthew 10:32-36

            When we think about Jesus, we often think of Jesus as the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah prophesied that He would be the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6.  The angels sang about peace coming to humankind because Jesus was born in Luke 2:13-14.  So, naturally we would think of Jesus as coming to bring peace.  Why does Jesus say in Matthew 10:34, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” 

            Let us pray. 

            If Jesus did not come to bring peace on this earth, why did Jesus leave Heaven to come to earth to be born as a baby?  The answer is found in John 12:47. Jesus came not to judge the world, but to save it. 

            If Jesus came to judge the world, then after His judgment there would be peace.  If Jesus came to right every wrong, then there would be peace.  If Jesus came to punish every person that has ever done wrong, then there would be peace.  But there would not be Salvation and there would not be Grace. 

            One day, Jesus will come to judge the world.  The prophet Malachi predicted what the coming day of the Lord would bring in Malachi 4:1-6.  Jesus confirmed this to John on the Island of Patmos in Revelation 20:11-15. That is when the day of the Lord will come and after judgement – peace.

            Thank God that day has not come, and we are living during the days of God’s grace.  At this time, we can go to Jesus to confess, repent, and be forgiven of our sins forever.  The Bible tells us as far as the East is from the West, God has removed our sins are remembered no more, Psalm 103:12

            There is a misconception that when a person opens their heart and allows Jesus to come in that life is going to be living on easy street.  Your paycheck is going to increase.  Your family is going to be happy.  You will have no problems.  Everything is going to be hunky dory.  Unfortunately, the opposite is going to come true.  Just ask Job.  Job had everything going for him.  He had ten children.  He had a loving wife.  He had lots of livestock and plenty of land.  He was a rich man in everything, including his faith.  God had blessed him abundantly.  Then God allowed Satan to take everything away, except his faith.  Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die.  Job says to his wife in Job 2:10.   

            So, accepting Jesus into our hearts does not mean that life is living on easy street.   Matter of fact, the opposite most likely will be true.  The people that you work with might disassociate from you and even call you names, like Jesus Freak or Bible Thumper or Holy Roller.  Jesus tells us that we need to be fully committed to Him to be His disciple.  By being fully committed to Jesus, that will drive a wedge between our relationship with others, Matthew 10:35. 

            Not only does this happened in the workplace, but also in the family.  Many of you have already experienced this.  You understand what I am talking about.  The son or daughter that you raised up in church, has left the church, and has left Christianity.  There is awkwardness when you talk to them.  There is an awkwardness when you share a meal with them.

            When this happens and it will happen, you need to be the one that reaches out to them with patience and grace.  You should avoid unnecessary arguments that lead into a back-and-forth debate.  You must pray for them and pray for them and pray for them.  Then pray for them all the more.  Keep the door open, because God will open the door for you to have discussion with them to have future communication without being pushy or demanding.  Let your daily actions show Christ through you.  Be kind to them and above all show love for them. 

            This works the same for family members are well as co-workers and friends. 

            Never compromise on your faith.  Job did not compromise even though his wife insisted.  Never compromise your faith with your co-workers.  Remember Daniel.  He was taken to Babylon by a pagan king, King Nebuchadnezzar.  He was given a pagan name.  He was told to eat the king’s food, which he did not do. He was educated by the king, but he still kept his faith in God.  God blessed him for his faithfulness to the point that even this pagan king came to believe in God.  Look at Daniel 2:46-48 and Daniel 4:37.   This pagan king who had conquered numerous countries and their gods, he now accepts God and glorifies Him.  This also can also happen in the place where you work.

Never compromise your faith with your friends.  Does anyone remember a group of young adults called the White Rose?  They were a group of your Christian adults who oppose Hitler in 1943.  They printed and distributed leaflets exposing the human atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazis.  They were rounded up by the Gestapo.  A brother named Hans Scholl and his sister named Sophie Scholl with their friend, Christoph Probst were executed by a guillotine.  They had all once been part of the Nazi Youth Program.  A wonderful man named Carl Muth had told them about Jesus.  Hans and Sophie had left diaries that would be published all over Germany by the White Rose.  In these diaries, is how they went from Nazi Youth to Christians.  Hans writes in his diary, “Just before Christmas 1941, I heard and perceived the name of the Lord.  Thereafter it grew lighter every day as if scales were falling from my eyes.  I am praying.  I feel I have a firm background and a clear goal.  This year, Christ has been born in me.”  A month later, he told a friend, “I have dropped anchor, come what may, and nothing can really trouble me from now on.”  Hans and Sophie brought many former Nazi Youth to Christ with their lives and after their death through their diaries. 

And certainly, never compromise your faith with your family.  In Acts 10, we have the event of the first Gentile converts.  Cornelius, a Roman centurion, sends out a delegation to invite Jesus’ disciple Peter to come to his house, so that he and his family can hear about Jesus.  Peter comes and preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and all in his household.  I suspect that Cornelius went out and invite everyone that he could to come to his house for a gathering.  Peter preaches the Gospel, and everyone gets saved.  How do we know that everyone got saved?  Look at Acts 10:47-48.

Jesus says in Mattthew 10:32-33.  God wants to use you as the conduit to spread His love and grace to them. 

            There is a saying to Bloom where you are Planted.  By following Jesus, we may not be peace makers, but division creators.  This is necessary for us to be kingdom planters for Christ.  Jesus says in Matthew 10:34, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” 

            So, let us listen to God and do what He says.  Amen.