Dear friends:

Would you like to be polarizing and divisive?  I will show you a sure-fire (and godly) way.
 
There is one word that is the most polarizing and divisive word in the world.  Many people passionately love it. More people passionately hate it.

That word is "Jesus."

In mixed company, as I have found, mere mention of it is a conversation-stopper.  People gasp.  Things get quiet.  People fidget.  Somebody changes the subject.  Most do not want to hear it, unless as a curse word, which is okay.

One day years ago I was sitting in an Air Force officers club bar with a bunch of fellow officers.  I was just becoming a serious Christian.  In the conversation, I mentioned the word "Jesus."  Conversation stopped.  People fidgeted.  They looked at me like I had leprosy or something.  My offense: I had mentioned that forbidden word.

This past Wednesday night, January 23, a singing couple on the popular "American Idol" TV show won the honor to proceed on to Hollywood and the next round of singing competition.  The young man was so ecstatic and full of joy that he ran out of the audition room jumping and shouting, "Hallelujah, Jesus!"  The next day, FOX News reported the incident, but to my shock censored out the one word "Jesus."  The video clip suddenly stopped after the word "Hallelujah."  They purposely left out "Jesus." 

But He is accustomed to being left out of people's lives.
 
Demons hate that name.  It is their undoing.  They recognize that name and tremble in fear, because Jesus defeated their master, and when His name is invoked, it destroys their influence.  There is an invisible spirit world surrounding us.  When the name "Jesus" is spoken in the physical world, things happen in the spirit world.  Calling upon that name brings salvation and deliverance.  "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13).
 
The Lord also told us to use His name when we pray.  "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (John 16:23).  Only Jesus, the Son, came to represent the Father.  Only the name of Jesus carries credibility in heaven.  There is no other name that can do what the name of Jesus can do.

God's Word says: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

But in spite of the hatred and disrespect, the Day is coming that "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10:11).

Don't wait until that fateful Day.  With God-given wisdom and timing, mention and invoke His powerful name whenever you can.  Make people think about it.  Shake up the devil's kingdom!  Make him nervous.  Watch him shudder and flee!

Oh, yes, as the old song declares, "There's just something about that name."

Jim