Fighting for Unity in a Divided WorldSýnishorn

A New Command

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV

Jesus was telling us, His followers, the world will know who He is by the way we love. So, if we can’t respectfully disagree with someone about politics, then that is an indicator that we need to check our hearts. Jesus died for the person we disagree with. And He commanded us to love them. So, let’s look at some practical tips to help us love the people we just don’t see eye-to-eye with.

Acknowledge your own bias. Biases are the inclinations of your thoughts and feelings. They’re personal judgements on a matter or a person, often in a negative or prejudicial way. And biases affect everyone whether or not we even realize it. We tend to think only others have bias issues. Ego and pride distort our thinking in dangerous and subtle ways. But before we can expect someone else to acknowledge their biases, we have to acknowledge our own. Here’s an example. Where do you get your news from? Chances are, you’re following your confirmation biases—even if it’s subconsciously. We like to read or watch something that allows us to say to ourselves, “See? I was right!” Strive to seek teaching and correction from the Word of God as the ultimate source of wisdom, truth, and knowledge more than seeking your favorite content provider as a source of ego-stroking.

Learn to see the good (and the not-so-good) on both sides. If you come to a place where you see the people you agree with as “good” and the people you disagree with as “bad,” then that is an indicator we’ve stopped seeing the other side as human beings made in the image of God. Why? If you can’t learn to see the good and the not-so-good on both sides, then you can become convinced that they are your enemy. Remember, they are never an enemy to be conquered; they are always a person to be loved.

Seek to understand before seeking to be understood. If you find yourself saying, “I can’t understand why they ______” then pause, and see that as an opportunity to better understand the people you disagree with. Start a conversation. Ask questions. Listen. See things from their point of view. You don’t have to agree with someone to understand them.

Remember, you’re not as smart as you think you are. Just because you think you’re right, doesn’t mean you’re right. Even if you feel very passionately that you’re right, that still doesn’t necessarily make you right. This truth helps us to enter into conversations with the posture of wanting to learn from and understand the other person. If our goal is to win an argument, then we will never have real conversations. Instead, our goal should be to build connections and find common ground so that we can move forward.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to represent Him to the world in everything we do. Including how we engage in politics. Including how we disagree about politics. When people see the way you talk about politics, do they see Jesus in you?

Pray: God, help me to represent You well in every conversation. Help me to live in such a way that people see You in me.