Rev. Melinda Giese, Minister of Discipleship & Pastoral Care
Today, we will inaugurate a new President, in the midst of a raging pandemic and in a country that remains bitterly divided. According to a Pew research study conducted in November of 2020, eight out of ten registered voters in both parties said that their political differences were about core American values, and nine out of ten registered voters worried that a victory by the other political party would lead to “lasting harm” to the United States. Where do we go from here? And what does the church have to say to this deep division?
One of the most radical beliefs of the Christian church is that we are “one body in Christ.” We sing this belief in “One Bread, One Body,” and we find it described in depth in letters from the apostle Paul. He explains in 1 Corinthians 12:20-21, “But as it is, there are many parts but one body [of Christ]. So the eye can’t say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you,’ or in turn, the head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’” God created this body, and we are just one part of it. Even when we disagree, we remain connected through the body of Christ. In the church, we’re not just individuals; we are joined to something bigger than ourselves.
If you’ve been a part of a church for any length of time, you know this isn’t easy. Congregation members can disagree about everything from religious beliefs and social issues, to worship music and the color of the sanctuary carpet. There are many times when we don’t live out our belief in the body of Christ, and churches split or members leave. But ideally, when we look across the church aisle at someone we disagree with or don’t even like, we recognize they still belong to our Christian family.
In recent years as we have become increasingly divided over our core American values, we have become more likely to cut off people with whom we disagree politically, even within our own biological families. It’s easy to understand why. It’s too hard to talk to one another; we don’t agree on anything anymore; it’s too painful. But if we end relationships for these reasons, it becomes impossible for us to talk, even less likely that we will understand the other person’s position, and the painful divide deepens. Some of these relationships may be toxic and should be ended. However, there are likely others that cause us great frustration but not actual harm.
There is no magic solution to the divisions in our country, and we have much work to do to find a way forward. If we truly want to see progress, we all share in this responsibility. Divisions that continue to go unaddressed, unheard, or ignored impact us all. For our part, we can help by staying engaged in relationships where we differ and continuing to listen to opposing views, even when it’s challenging.
Inside and outside of the church, we are all interconnected as part of God’s larger creation. We breathe the same air, drink the same water, share the same planet, and wrestle with our shared problems. With God’s grace and help, may all of us find ways to listen more deeply to one another for the sake of our shared future together.