47“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous50and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13)
Thoughts: This passage is a dire warning against those who want to divide the holy from the unholy now. Separation and division are warned against in the Bible over and over. Yet the Protestant church especially seems to have lost any moorings about unity and forbearance. The church I serve has split twice- each time more people quit church than went to another church. The first split was evenly divided between those who left, those who stayed, and those who were so disillusioned about the arguing, fighting, and name calling that they just quit. In America we are quick to divorce and split when we disagree. There is little loyalty. This does not mean that the main body has been altogether wonderful. The main body cares little about the ecumenical and historical interpretations of scripture and have shown a willingness to castigate those with traditional interpretations. So there is divisiveness on both sides: in that there is little compromise in the name of love and lots of idealogy that is not even found in scripture. The admonitions to be one and to love one another are overcome by what we think should happen.
In this passage it is clear that good and bad fish are caught in the net of the kingdom. It is also clear that Jesus indicates we want to separate too early- when it is God who separates and sorts us at the end. Let us seek love above all else- balanced with the holiness of scripture.
Prayer: Lord, help me to value the unity of your church and the faith that unites us.
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