A Big Step to Heal the Divide

In my previous blog post, I mentioned that there's no way humanly possible way to heal the divide in this country. This past election, which was a wild ride, and the protests that followed shows the divide is deep and very real. This nation has deep wounds. But having said that it's not totally impossible to bridge this gap between people.

Christians, true followers of Jesus Christ, must seize this time as a golden opportunity to show this country and this world there's another way of doing things. So how do we this? It's simple yet profoundly deep. Christians need to show love towards each other. Even the Church has been somewhat divided over this election. But rather than following the zeitgeist of this culture, we need to listen to the Spirit of our Lord. As a matter of fact, Jesus commanded His disciples to love each other.
  
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 
-- John 13:34-35 WEB

So Jesus isn't giving an option-- it's a mandate. And if we claim we love Jesus, we must listen to what He says (John 14:15). So it doesn't whether your brother or sister in Christ is a far-lefty or a right-winger, we must love them all the same because they follow Jesus Christ, the Lord. Not to mention, they are also human beings, which are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).

So what does this love look like and how far does should this love go? What does the Scripture say?

By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. -- 1 John 3:16 WEB 

Since Jesus gave us an example of love looks like by laying down life His down on the cross, we ought to be willing to lay our lives down for our brothers and sisters in Christ. So it doesn't matter whether you agree with them or not, you need to be willing to your lay your life down for them. It's not about us and our comfort zone. It's about God and others. Because if show hate towards our brothers and sister, then we are in darkness, we are murderers, we are liars, and cannot love God (1 John 2:9, 2:11, 3:15, 4:20). In other words, we are bunch of phonies if we don't do this. See the following Scripture for further reason why we should love each other. 

 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. -- 1 John 4:8 NIV  

And this love isn't simply a command. Love each other will have a profound impact on those outside of the Church. Look at John 13:35 again:

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  

King Jesus knows that if His followers love each other truly, then the world will know we identify with Him. Jesus said something similar to God the Father before He was crucified on the cross.

 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. -- John 17:20-23 NIV

Jesus said that if those who believe in Him showed the same unity towards each other like the unity He had with God, then the world would know that He was sent by God. That's profound!

You see many people don't follow Jesus not because there's no evidence. There is. It's because there's no proof of Him in the lives of those who claim the name of Christ. But if we show love and unity towards each other, then what would this nation or this world would say then? I believe their hearts would be more open towards the Lord Jesus. The proof is in the pudding.  Being the example matters.

In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. -- Matthew 5:16 NIV

So what I'm saying is this: We need to start the healing within the Church by loving each other. Once we are healed and united under Christ, then we can show our love to others outside. Then, the healing in this divided nation and in this broken world will begin.
  

 

Can the politcal divide be healed?

Regardless of who wins this election, the fact that this remains is that this nation, I'm talking about the United States, is extremely divided. It's not just in liberal or conservative viewpoints they are divided on. People have extremely different worldviews on morals and on society in general.

Is there anyway we can heal this divide?

I'm afraid to say this: no. There isn't any policy change or political movement that can change this. The kingdoms of this world, the governments, are inherently broken and Satan controls them in varying degrees (Revelation 13). The people of this world are also broken and some are blinded by the god of the age, who is Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Not to mention, that politics is based on power over others (Matthew 20:25-28). It also based on divisiveness, such as dissension and factions, which is the fruit of our flesh (Galatians 5:20).

But there is hope but it doesn't come from us. It only come from Jesus Christ. Jesus has already paved for unity for us.

His death on the cross tore down the wall between Jews and Gentiles (people of non-Jewish origin). See Ephesians 2 from Scripture on how Jesus did this. The significance of his death speaks volume. It not only tore down the wall between each other but also the division between us and God (Matthew 27:51). Why did Jesus do this. It's because He loved us. Think of the radical implications here.

So how can we practically show Jesus's love for humanity towards each other. First, we must be followers of King Jesus. He will gives us His Spirit, so that we act radically different than this world (John 14:26, Romans 8:9-11, Galatians 5:16).

The Spirit of Christ (also known as The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God) will gives us the power to love each other to be peaceful, patient, and kindness to one another (Galatians 5:22).

You have may seen the Coexist bumper stickers. I can't judge someone's motive for putting this on their vehicle. But if you are truly looking for the ultimate coexistence, it can only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. His kingdom is about love, justice, and truth. You will find the ultimate Coexist in His Kingdom.  

This isn't some airy-fairy stuff. Following Jesus and implementing His love might spare us from societal collapse or nuclear Armageddon. In other words, if we love each other like Jesus did for humanity, we can ensure the survival of our species and this planet.  

But what I saying is this: we can't heal this deep divide on our own; we can only be healed by King Jesus's love and power.

Let me leave you with the words from Jesus Christ:

"With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,"