In my lifetime I have never seen the nation so divided. The divide isn’t just a difference of opinion, it’s almost a hatred of people who are different. Healing this divide is in the purview of the church. Unfortunately, in many ways the church has abandoned that responsibility and has allowed itself to become part of the cause of division.
One of the most disheartening things I keep hearing is one person denying that another person can be a Christian because they disagree on politics. I have heard people say, “If you are a Christian, you have to be a ____________________.” (Either party name can be inserted in the blank spot.) That kind of judgmentalism isn’t only unbecoming but anti-scriptural. All those who are followers of Jesus are part of one body. To reject a brother or sister based on political orientation isn’t condoned in the scripture.
There has been a long history of people rejecting other Christians who are different. It started in the very beginning (check out the council in Jerusalem reported in the 15th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles) and it has continued since then. When I was growing up it was common to hear someone in my circle of acquaintances say that Roman Catholics weren’t Christians. At another point in my life, it became “chiasmatics” who weren’t Christians. Today it’s someone who isn’t in a particular political party. I’m convinced that these attitudes now, as in the beginning of the church and in the years I have experienced, grieves our Heavenly Father. How could it not; when his family that he loves so much that he sent Jesus to redeem us is torn apart by these attitudes.
My father used to say we weren’t to judge one another, but we could be fruit inspectors. We need to be careful in what conclusions we draw about the fruit we are inspecting. It can become a back-door way to judge and reject people.
I believe it would be helpful to look at what people say and do in terms of the fruit of the spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” I want to have some idea of how the fruit of the Spirit is demonstrated by what people do and, perhaps more importantly, by what people say.
It’s also important that we not become judgmental when we see the fruit if the Spirit lacking in someone’s actions and words. Remember, that none of us is perfect in what we do and say and that if people were to examine our fruit of the Spirit, all of us are going to be found wanting. The most we can do is affirm that in our own lives, these are the things that are important and that the lack of these is a concern for us.
Being careful in our judgmentalness also applies to healing our nation. During any political season we will hear a lot of demonizing of the other side. That’s the opposite of what one would expect if there was true love, peace, gentleness, and forbearance (to name just a few of the “fruits of the Spirit”). If the church is to be true to the Spirit of God, it will seek to stop the dividing that may take place and speak instead of the healing that comes through Jesus Christ. Different people may see the healing in different ways, but the healing is what should predominate our speech and our actions.
Remember, no matter where you stand politically, you are a light to the world. Our job is to show that light. Those who see the light will have to decide what they will do about it.
Ross T Lucas 