Politics for People Who Hate Politicsਨਮੂਨਾ

Over the past two decades, partisan messaging has so permeated our culture that election season is now a year-round 24/7 reality. Political agendas are embedded in every cultural conversation, with nowhere to escape. Americans have responded by barricading themselves behind partisan walls and engaging in trench warfare—not against foreign enemies, but against each other. However, unity in the body of Christ is a central theme in the Bible.

It’s impossible to read the Bible without stumbling across a teaching on unity; after all, there are 179 verses that speak to it. You can’t be a Christian and not take God’s teaching on unity seriously. Imagine how a unified church would look to a watching world, witnessing the full body of Christ share the political burdens that their brothers and sisters across the aisle carry. Even if we disagree as to how we’d address those burdens, acknowledging them as important to a member of our spiritual family would set an unprecedented example of unity.

Unity is essential for the body of Christ to function effectively and to be a powerful witness to the world. As Martin Luther King Jr. noted, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Since we need a lot of friends to effect change, even in the political realm, loving unity is as wise as it is essential.

Reflection: What can you do to replace your partisan beliefs with kingdom principles and unite your heart with someone who has a different political opinion around God’s truth?