People naturally gravitate toward people who are like them. We cling to commonalities. Common experiences, like minds, similar tastes, familiar cultures, matching styles, reciprocal conversations. These things are unavoidable and are not inherently bad.

But, what happens when people begin to divide, take sides, and believe that anyone who is different from themselves is less valuable? Less deserving? Less respectable? 

In the last few months, we have witnessed a divisive movement of hate in our country that has erupted into offensive behavior, slander, and violence that no one can or should ignore. People who didn’t stock up on necessities glaring at people buying Charmin. Government school people attacking homeschoolers. Republicans blasting democrats. Socialists striking out against capitalists. Those who want to wear a mask, hate those who don’t. People who refuse vaccinations despise those who get them. “Essential” workers are resentful toward “non-essentials.” Natural-born citizens look down on those who immigrate. Those in and out of uniform are abhorred. People of every skin color are terrified and angry. Where is it going to end? And, what are believers to do?

To know what we are to do, we must turn to the Word of God. He grants us wisdom. He corrects us. He teaches us. He guides us. He empowers us. And, He has everything we need.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

      For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

      Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

      Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” – Romans 12:1-18

These last few months have been incredibly trying, not just for those in our nation, but for the world. Changed plans, lost jobs, dashed hopes, worry, sickness, and death have inundated the headlines. People have lost much. People are scared of losing more. People are grieving.

Here, in Romans 12, we are told to have an affinity for those who mourn. We are to mourn with them, to sincerely sympathize with their suffering, in the same way we long for others to care for us when we grieve. When we shoulder the burden of grief together in this way, we are all stronger for it.

What if the believers in the one true God were so radically different from the rest of the world, that there was no doubt Whom we served? What if those who are hurting and looking for peace and justice and love saw us and were amazed at the God who gave us such things in abundance? What if we truly reflected His good and perfect nature as we followed His will? How attractive would that be in these days?

Oh, don’t you see that’s exactly what He wants for us? God doesn’t want us to look like the world. He wants us to renew our minds in His Truth, to allow it to transform us, and to choose and act upon His good and perfect will. And, through that, His glory (the good opinion of His name) would shine!

A divided nation, drowning in hatred and cruelty, is the result of pride and arrogance and selfishness. But, God’s desire is for us to be humble and to be kind and compassionate toward all people. Humility is what makes us teachable. Humility helps us respect others and do good to them. Humility leads us to consider others before ourselves and to be able to sacrifice for them. It’s what we need to be a nation united.

This love is not a feeling, not an emotion that comes and goes with circumstances. This love is agape love — giving oneself for another. This love is to be sincere. It can’t be faked. It’s free from hidden agendas. It doesn’t come naturally. It’s only found in or possible in knowing Jesus Christ. His is the truest example of love, the highest expression of love. And, when we know that kind of love, and He changes us from the inside out, we can love others “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

If only there were an answer that could apply to all people of all minds, tastes, cultures, and appearances.

THERE IS!!

Jesus Christ — the Son of God, the Son of Man, Emmanuel, the Lamb of God, the Risen King, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Savior of the World — is the Answer for all the world!

Every other answer will fall short, not last, be prejudiced one way or another. Our human logic won’t work. Trying to reason with people isn’t effective. Retaliation isn’t it. Tyranny is wrong. Silence doesn’t appease. 

And, the thing is, those of us who have the Answer, who know true peace, who trust in Jesus, we shouldn’t be silent. It’s time to get loud! If you have the remedy to every problem that mankind has ever or will ever face, won’t you share it?

The answer for hate is love.
“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” – 1 John 4:8

The answer for pride is humility.
“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:8

The answer for greed is generosity.
“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” – 1 Timothy 6:18

The answer for lies is truth.
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” – John 17:17

The answer for anger is compassion.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32

The answer for violence is peace.
“Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:11

The answer for a wrong suffered is forgiveness.
“bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” – Colossians 3:13

The answer for wickedness is righteousness.
“Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:14

The answer for sin is Jesus!
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23