By Luther Blackmon
The Lord knew that a positive stand for the truth would cause division. He said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter-inlaw against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me.” Jesus did not mean that He takes delight in causing strife. But He demands unqualified obedience to what He said, and that kind of obedience will divide families. We have seen it happen many times. It will also divide churches when there are those in the churches who put the truth ahead of everything else, and some others, including the elders, who are determined that the church shall engage in practices for which they can give not scriptural authority. In such cases brethren who respect the truth will separate themselves. When they do they will be maligned, ridiculed, and ostracized. Every effort will be made to break down their resistance and bring them back. This is just a part of the price you pay for being loyal to the truth above everything else. Paul said, “. . . all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). I surely do not envy these fainthearted brethren who are more afraid of brotherhood sentiment than they are the wrath of God.
Truth Magazine XXI: 34, p. 530
September 1, 1977