Dear Friends,
If there is anything our country needs in this time of its history,
it is unity. I watched a few minutes of the impeachment process yesterday, and
I quickly turned it off. The political partisanship exhibited on both
sides of the aisle was as deplorable as the rioting which took place during
the summer and what occurred last week in our Capitol. I wanted to scream
out to all the participants, “People, can’t you put your
differences aside and try to get along with each other."
The apostle Paul was no stranger to those who struggled to get
along. To the Corinthians, he wrote, “My dear friends, as a follower of our
Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don’t take sides.
Always try to agree in what you think” (1 Cor 1:10 Msg. Bible). To the Romans
he wrote, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement, give you a spirit
of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart
and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans
15:5).
No, I am not naïve enough to think Republicans and Democrats
will suddenly join hands and get together singing kum by yah, but please can’t
we find some common ground in the face of our political differences.
And as believing brothers and sisters in Christ, do we have to treat
everyone who disagrees with our positions as our enemy? Do families and
relationships have to suffer because we have no room in our hearts for those
who don’t think like us. Unfortunately, we have allowed our differences to
divide and destroy our relationships and fracture our fellowship.
I love the words of the 17th century German theologian Rupertus
Meldenius, who said; “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty;
and in all things, charity.” His words would be a good motto to hang on our
bathroom mirrors, so that we might be encouraged to bathe every difference or
disagreement in the light of its truth. No, this issue is not just a political
problem, it is a people problem and you and I are the ‘people.’
John Wesley ad George Whitefield were good friends in their
earlier years, Wesley having begun his outdoor preaching ministry at
Whitefield’s encouragement. As time when on the men disagreed, with Whitefield
leaning more heavily toward Calvinism than his younger friend’s Arminianism.
When Whitefield died, Wesley was asked if he expected to see Dr. Whitefield in
heaven. In exaggerated but honest respect, he answered, “No, he’ll be so near
the throne of God that men like me will never even get a glimpse of him.”
Though miles apart in their theology, they didn’t lose their sense of oneness
in Christ.
Unity is the hallmark of Christian love. It was a great concern of
our Lord before He went back to heaven. Thus, He prayed for all of His
disciples, that we might be “one” just as He (Christ) was one with the
Father" (John 17:22-23).
Maybe that is a little too much to expect from Nancy Pelosi and
Mitch McConnell, but I pray it is not too much to expect from you and me. Don’t
let your differences divide you from your family and friends. Let the world be
amazed as they look through the windows of our schools, businesses, homes
and churches and marvel at what they behold, and in so doing may we hear them
say, “See, how they love one another.”
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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