There are so many upsetting things going on in our world: so much injustice, immorality, dishonesty, harshness, even cruelty. No one likes the way things are, but who feels empowered to do anything about it? Most feel helpless, victims of a powerful elite or of misinformed masses who are really to blame.
Yet, a proven way to heal our divisions does exist. It does not require an election or law. It works even when the majority are oblivious and the powerful are opposed. It is the way of Christ. The way where the world’s brutality and selfishness are met by compassion and humility. Rather than seeking to sway the masses, it touches lives one person at a time with genuine love. It buys slaves to free them, adopts unwanted children, risks death to care for the sick, and brings wildly different people together.
We did not get where we are today because this way stopped working: we just started trying other things. If nothing else changed, you could: and it would begin to heal our divisions. We could be “imitators of God, as beloved children” and “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Eph. 5:1-2). This would not mean we are silent in the face of evil but that we confront it like Jesus did: gently offering its victims healing and hope.
This requires us not to be filled with wine – or Facebook – but to be “filled with the Spirit” by “addressing one another in psalms…singing and making melody to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). How much more might we be saturated with Christ’s love if instead of beginning each day with the news and ending it with Netflix, we sang? If instead of focusing on all that is wrong in the world, we gave thanks to God for all that He is doing in it and put each other first because we revere Jesus (Eph. 5:20-21)?
If we would, it would change how we see things. Not that we would see abortion, dishonesty, or injustice as any less repugnant, but that we would recognize the real enemy. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Seeing that puts us on an entirely different battlefield. One where the victory does not go to the one who raises the most money, gets the most votes, makes the best arguments, or shares the cleverest meme. It goes to “all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Eph. 6:24). Do you know what that kind of love does when it reaches more and more people? It heals.
Ready to learn from Jesus and His apostles how to be truly united? Check out our sermon series “That They May Be One”.