Christians are more divided over this election than any I have ever seen. Numerous surveys bear this out.
For instance, 65 percent of White evangelicals plan to vote for Trump, while 62 percent of African/Hispanic/Asian evangelicals say they will vote for Clinton. Meanwhile, 47 percent of Protestants who support Clinton say they “have a hard time respecting” Trump supporters; 42 percent of Protestants who support Trump feel the same way about Clinton supporters.
I truly believe that God is grieving the divisiveness of his people wrought by the divisiveness in our land.
Right now, Jesus is praying that his people will be one so that the world will know that the Father sent the Son (John 17:23). Our Lord knows that our unity is vital to our witness. A culture shattered by racism, slavery, and misogyny was shocked to hear the news that for Christians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28). Our divided and divisive culture needs the power of our unity no less than theirs.
To help answer Jesus’ prayer, more than three hundred churches across America are doing something that is so simple, it’s profound; so commonplace, it’s unique: they’re planning Election Day Communion services. No political speeches, no placards, no candidates, just one King. I am certain our Lord is pleased.
Far more unites us than divides us. Our witness is not that we voted for the same candidate but that we love the same Lord. When we choose what unites us over what divides us, “All people will know that you are my disciples” (John 13:35). And God’s Spirit will answer the prayer of God’s Son and lead many to experience God’s love and to advance God’s Kingdom.
Last Saturday, Pope Francis gave a speech in which he quoted Martin Luther King Jr., “Hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe.” The converse is just as true: Love for hate intensifies the existence of love in the universe. And the more intense the hate, the more obvious the love.
Don’t you think God would want to redeem this hate-filled election by using it to spark a great unifying movement in his Church that would lead to spiritual awakening in our land? Here’s the real question: Do you want what he wants?
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