United, Not Divided: Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World

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Right now our Nation is about to go into a very divisive season, it has been happening every 4 years but over the last few elections it has been getting worse.

We fight about everything now when it comes to politics and we

end friendships

put strain on family

call people names

make fun of them

we make our neighbors our enemies

We call people evil

Church bodies even feel the division

But are we called to be different

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

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.

But the list above goes against what Paul lists out

Ending friendships

when we should be showing Love, Ending friendships over disagreements contradicts the love that seeks reconciliation and unity.

Putting strain on family

this is the opposite of Peace. The Holy Spirit encourages us to be peacemakers

Calling people names

This is opposite of Kindness, The fruit of kindness compels us to speak words that build up rather than tear down.

Making Fun of People

This is the opposite of Gentleness, When we mock others, we are not exhibiting the gentleness that the Holy Spirit produces. Instead, we become harsh and critical, failing to show the understanding and compassion that gentleness brings.

Making Our Neighbors Our Enemies

This is opposite of Goodness, Treating our neighbors as enemies goes against the call to do good and extend God's love even to those who oppose us.

Calling People Evil

This goes against Faithfulness, Faithfulness includes standing firm in truth while also demonstrating grace. When we label others as evil, we risk losing the opportunity to witness to them faithfully and lovingly. Faithfulness seeks to build bridges rather than burn them.

Church Bodies Feeling the Division

This goes against Self-control and Patience, the truth is that others within the walls of the Church might feel differently then you, and when you make this a place that they feel like they can not come to anymore. how can anyone grow in their faith .

Well some of you might be thinking right now, “Yeah, but the other party believes ____ and is going to ruin our country”

Let me go ahead and address that right now.

Colossians 1:16–17 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Revelation 22:13 NIV

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

God created everything and is still here, He is the first and the Last the beginning and the end, do you really think that God does not know who is going to win an election? do you think God’s power is controlled by who is in the White House?

God is still God even if we are to live in the most locked down communist country.

Christians in North Korea have the same salvation as we do.

To often we tie our faith and salvation to our government and when we do that our candidate becomes our savior instead of Jesus.

Let’s not stop there, we also tie God to a certain set of beliefs, and now if those beliefs are shaken our faith crumbles.

What do I mean by this

Pre-trib

dig in

young earth

dig in

Well I’m just going to keep going down this rabbit hole

We also tie God to our denominations

I’m a Baptist

So I am a true follower of God

Do you know that Heaven is not going to be filled with baptists?

they will be there, but Heaven will be filled with Christians

it will be filled with

Lutherans

Methodists

Pentecostals

Catholics

Orthodox

Anglicans

Church of Christ

and so on

See there is no denominations in heaven Just followers of Christ

Ephesians 4:4–6 NIV

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

When we lose sight of who saves us and focus on non-salvational issues we become divided and there is nothing more that the enemy wants then God’s Church to be divided and fighting against each other, instead of the evil of this world.

We need to stand united in Christ

But back up a little

In 2 weeks we are going to have an vote in our nation

What happens if your candidate does not win, will it be the end of the world?

probably not

What should happen if your person does not win is the same if they do win and that is to trust God, reach out to those that do not agree with you.

If you think that other side is wrong, why are you going to alienate them?

Do those we disagree with not need Jesus as much as those we do agree with.

Do you think by

shaming them

calling them names

stop talking with them

being mean to them

attacking them

Do you think any of that is going to make them want to listen to you, and hear about Jesus,

If we only show contempt and hate are we really showing them Jesus

What does Jesus have to say about this

john 13:35,

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, by the way you vote

NO

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you align with a political party

No

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you go to a certain denomination

NO

John 13:35 NIV

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

If there is no Love there is no unity

Turn you Bibles to 1 Cor,

So the Church in Corith had some issues, and Paul had to help guide them out of those issues

These issues were Immorality

Lawsuits among believers

Misuse of Christian freedoms

Issues with Communion

Misuses of Spiritual gifts

and confusion

But, BUT before he addressed ANY of those issues he addressed Unity

1 Corinthians 1:10–13 NIV

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

The most important issue that needed to be addressed was fixing the division

WHY?

Because nothing else can be fixed if the Church is divided

And right now we are more divided then ever before

Our country is split in half and people are losing so much because of it

But it does not stop there, the Church is more divided now then ever before, we fight over things that should not be fought about

many go as far as to call people in other denominations and Church bodies not Christians, or that they are going to Hell because they believe a doctrine that is different then ours.

We need to start with the foundation of our faith, Jesus

1 Corinthians 2:2 NIV

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

We can disagree on non-salvational issues and its ok

at the end of the day does it really matter when Christ returns?

Nope

as long as we have Jesus

Does it matter if God created in 6 days or millions of years?

Nope

If we believe that God created and Jesus is our savior and we have given our life to him

When we agree and attack and have no love for those who think different about these issues we are not showing the love that Christ has called us to have

Remember john 13:35

John 13:35 NIV

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

LOVE one another

So let me ask you

When you are faced with another person that disagrees with you do you love them?

Better, HAVE you prayed for those you disagree with?

have you prayed for our leaders?

how about the leaders of the other party?

See Augustine a early Church father gets it right

The Truth is like a lion; You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself. Augustine of Hippo

So the challenge for this week

Pray For those you disagree with

If we start with the Church and become more united, the Love of God will be more proclaimed and more people might come to know Jesus

If the Church would spend more time praying for those who we disagree with then complaining about them, I bet you something miraculous would happen.

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.