GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 3:24
One Brute Fact
There are good-sounding arguments in which one premise logically follows from its predecessors, leading to a conclusion. At first glance, all seem well, except for one brute fact. There is an argument that the American Civil War was not about slavery but about economics, politics, and heritage, except for the brute fact that the Confederacy cited slavery as the core reason for seceding from the Union. Some drivers refuse to wear seatbelts because they believe they are dangerous, except for the brute fact that seatbelts save lives. Some citizens refuse vaccinations for various reasons, but one brute fact is that vaccinations save lives. There is an argument claiming that tariffs lead to an improvement in the nation’s economy, except for the brute fact that the 1930 Hawley-Smoot Tariff on over 20,000 imported goods decreased imports by 66% and contributed to the unemployment rate climb to 25%.
When Jesus’ critics accused him of casting out demons by the prince of demons, he pointed out one brute fact in their argument: “And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom is not able to stand.” (Mark 3:24) If Beelzebub is divided against himself, Beelzebub cannot stand.
The Roman Empire was strong as it extended through the Italian peninsula; however, its army marched out of Italy on a conquest that took it through Greece, Asia Minor, Palestine, and much of Western Europe, bringing in competing economies, cultures, and religions, which led to internal divisions, corruption, and infighting until it was ultimately governed by a barbarian in 476 AD—a brute fact is that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 not just because of external pressure but because of deep economic and political divisions among its 15 republics—a brute fact is that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. The First Church could not agree on what translation of the Bible to use, so it divided. Now there are the First Church, the Second Church, the Third Church…—a brute fact is that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. A husband and wife could not agree on a budget, so they divorced—a brute fact is that a marriage divided against itself cannot stand.
Kingdoms, nations, businesses, sports teams, families, churches, or social movements divided against themselves cannot stand. Jesus stated it correctly.
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