Sweet Harmony
Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, being one body and one spirit, as you were all called into the same glorious hope of divine destiny. For the Lord God is one, and so are we, for we share in one faith, one baptism, and one Father. Ephesians 4:3-5 TPT
Insight
Here we are: the week of the 2024 Presidential Election. This week looms heavy for many of us. The world around us feels full of division, disarray, and a foreboding sense of doom. We are terrified of who might occupy the Oval Office come January. We feel as though the sky may come crumbling down if one candidate or another gets elected. We are anxious about how the results may impact our families, our friends, and the most vulnerable across our nation. We have trouble looking our neighbors in the eye once we’ve read their political tirades on social media or see which sign they’ve chosen to put on their front lawn. At every mention of the election, we either shrink back and hide from the discomfort or allow ourselves to get sucked into a pessimistic, fatalistic, hate-filled wormhole.
At times like this, the Church has a unique opportunity to be a beacon of light in an otherwise divided world. We can—and we must—stand unified as one people under Christ. Those around us should be dumbfounded by how we love one another, even amid great political turmoil. We don’t have to agree on who ought to be elected. We don’t have to agree on policies or solutions. However, we do have to treat one another as God’s beloved children. In light of the Gospel, we must treat each other with dignity and respect. However, we aren’t meant to simply tolerate one another. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to bend down and wash one another’s feet, just as our Savior did for us (John 13:12-15). We are called to view one another as children of God, first and foremost. Whether we voted for Trump or Kamala, Christ was glad to die for us. We cannot forget that.
We cannot define ourselves—or one another—by our political views. The value and virtue of a person are not determined by whether they identify as a Republican or a Democrat (read that again). Oftentimes, our vote is determined by the circumstances of our upbringing, the media we consume, and the people we’ve surrounded ourselves with. We all think we have it right. But none of us have all the answers. Only God knows the best way forward for our nation and our world.
Another thing we have to remember is that our political conclusions are not evidence of our “goodness” or lack thereof. After all, none of us is “good” or “righteous” apart from the Lord. We have to acknowledge that no party has the moral high ground because all of us fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We have to humble ourselves and remember that our political views aren’t flawless. They couldn’t possibly be. We always have more to learn and more perspective to gain. We don’t know everything. We need to approach our political “opponents” with hearts full of curiosity and a mind ready to gain new insight. We cannot demand that others transform their entire worldview to earn our love or affection. God’s love toward us is not conditional. We are hypocrites if we make our love for others contingent on how they vote.
Though we should never stop fighting for justice (regardless of what we think “justice” should look like), we can rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign. All authority is His (Matthew 28:18), and He is always good. No matter who becomes the President, they will be under the rule and reign of the King of Kings. We can find peace in this Truth.
Our disagreements should never divide us when the Savior’s blood unites us. There is too much at stake for this election to tear the Church apart. Nothing is worth sacrificing our sweet harmony with one another. We can stand united—as difficult as it may be—in the never-ending love of God. If we can’t agree on anything else this week, let’s unite over these two things:
God is love, and He gave His son to set us free from darkness, division, and death.
It is a sweet, sweet miracle that the constant barrage of campaign fundraising text messages will finally end.
Reflection
This week, how can you humble yourself before someone who disagrees with you politically? How can you extend them love, without trying to change them?
Prayer
Father, thank you for being God over all. Thank you for being in control, even when it feels like our country is heading toward disaster. Thank you for calling us to stand together as one, despite our plentiful differences and disagreements. Give us patience and discipline to draw near to each other, even when it is difficult. Help us to see one another through Your eyes. Remind us that those on the “other side of the aisle” are not our enemy. There is one enemy, and he has already been defeated by Your mighty hand. Lord God, mobilize us to listen well to one another, to learn from each other, and to extend mercy to one another. God, regardless of the results of this election, bring justice to our country and to the world at large. Protect and comfort the poor, the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the abused, the ill, the incarcerated, the immigrant, the grieving and the hurting. Restore Your world to what it was meant to be. Bring Heaven to earth, according to Your will and perfect timing. Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.