Are you tired of all the bickering? Are you fed up with the arguing back and forth? Have you had your fill of one side demeaning the other side? Do you ask why there are two sides to begin with? What are you doing toward reconciliation?
We’ve heard the politicians hurling hateful language at one another. We’ve seen the news media fueling the fire. In all likelihood, we have stood on one side or the other. We have gotten caught up in the fray.
Unfortunately, we see this same scene within our churches. Oh, it may not be about who is running for office in our country, but it is about one issue or another. We fight to the bitter end because we believe we are in the right. By continuing the arguing and fighting, we are most definitely in the wrong.
Here is the question we must ask ourselves, “Are we furthering the Kingdom of God?” We also must understand that God doesn’t force His Kingdom on anyone. That being case, we cannot and will not win someone over, bringing them into the kingdom, through argument.
So, how do we win them over? We win them for the kingdom through love, compassion, and mercy. We have likely heard the quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” It is very true. We will admit it is true. Then we will do the exact opposite. Why? Are we so dense and blind and deaf that we don’t hear and abide by our own recognition of truth?
When there is division among us, we begin the spiral down that ends in defeat. As the body of Christ, we are to be united in love. Oh, we can disagree on liturgies, but we are to be united in our beliefs. There is only one God, one Son, one Holy Spirit, and one Kingdom.
Much like earthly kingdoms who will fall when they are divided, our churches will fail the Kingdom of God when we are divided. We are to unite under the love of Jesus Christ. We are to be His united body, representing Him in the here and now.
I pray we all determine to unite in love. I pray we strive to attract others into the Kingdom of God through love, compassion, and mercy. I pray each one of us show love to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Shed the hate that binds you. Give up the hate that divides us. Show love to one another. Be compassionate. Show mercy. Work for the Kingdom of God.
Luke 11:17-20 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Marty Pressey 