Posted Nov 14, 2018 by Michael L. Brown

Have you ever seen American evangelicals this divided? Have you ever seen followers of Jesus so torn apart over politics?

Obviously, during the Civil War era, Christian divisions were even deeper and more pronounced, as believers were literally killing each other over slavery and the actions of President Lincoln.

But in our lifetimes, have we seen such intense feelings, such passionate emotions, such virulent disagreements over politicswithin the evangelical Church?

During the Obama presidency, there were certainly deep differences between Christians who supported his policies and Christians who opposed his policies. But for the most part, those divisions fell along racial lines, with white evangelicals overwhelmingly opposing Obama and black evangelicals overwhelmingly supporting him.

And I doubt that many holiday dinners were disrupted over these divisions or that many people were unfriended on social media because of their political disagreements.

Today, things are different – and I say this without ascribing blame to any particular side or to the president himself. In fact, the last thing on my mind is to ascribe blame.

Instead, I write this to underscore the urgency of the hour and to emphasize why it is so important that we come together as followers of Jesus despite our political divides. (At present, there is even division between Kellyanne Conway, the president’s senior counsel, and her husband George over support for Trump.)

Both the pro-Trump evangelicals and the anti-Trump evangelicals can make their cases, and each side can show why it believes it is right. But it’s unlikely that, at this juncture, either side will convince the other.

What each of uscan do is this.

First, youcan sit down with a fellow-believer who differs with youand say, “Tellme why you feel the way you do. I really want to understand your point of view.”

Hopefully, that will lead to step two, in which you ask: “May I share my point of view with you now that I’ve heard and understood yours?”

If that succeeds, move on to point three, which is the one that really matters.

You can say, “Now that we understand our differences, can we agree that America is hurting and that we, as followers of Jesus, have the only message that will bring healing? Can we agree that there is no political solution to our nation’s greatest problems? Can we agree that if the Church is divided, the world will mock? Can we agree that the most important thing is that we unite in our love for the Lord and for our neighbor? Can we agree that the reputation of Jesus is far more important than our political affiliation?”

Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Can we demonstrate this love across the political divide? Can we demonstrate this love without total agreement on all points? Can we demonstrate this love by talking more about Jesus than about Trump (or Hillary or whoever)?

Shortly before He was crucified, the Lord prayed at length for our unity (see John 17), saying, “I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23). What an incredible prayer!

To put it bluntly, it is Satan, the evil one, who wants to divide us (and thereby destroy us) while it is Jesus, our Savior, who wants to unite us (and thereby bless us). To whose voice are we listening? Whose promptings are we following? Whose example are we emulating?

I’m not for a moment suggesting that we bury our differences. I’m not advocating some kind of superficial, Kumbaya unity. Far from it. Personally, I detest such shallow shows. They do more harm than good.

But what I am saying is that, as important as politics may be and as consequential as Trump’s presidency certainly is, there are more important, even more consequential matters that deserve our attention.

We recognize this during times of national calamity, like hurricanes or forest fires or floods. We all work together to save lives. We don’t see color. We don’t see ethnicity. We don’t see political affiliations. We see people in need, and we help them. Period.

That is how we need to view our nation today.

America is sinking. America is burning. America is suffering.

We have the answer in the gospel. We have the answer in the preaching of the cross. We have the answer in the power of the Spirit. We have the answer in the wisdom of the Word. We have the answer in practical, hands-on, demonstrable love. We have the answer in the power of unity. We have the answer in Jesus. And the world desperately needs what we have.

If you are committed to the lordship of Jesus and the authority of Scripture, if you are a born-again, follower of the Lamb, I’m willing to stand arm-in-arm with you to touch this broken nation, whether you think Trump is our greatest president ever or our worst president ever. I’m willing to put aside our political divisions in order to put Jesus first. Are you willing to do the same with me?

As someone called to offercultural commentary (in writing and on radio and TV), I plan to continue to address relevant political issues, which means that I plan to comment more on the president in the days ahead (as someone who voted for him, unashamedly, in 2016). And it’s very possible that you will take issue with some of what I say.

But why must that challenge our deeper unity? Why must the secondary become the primary, no matter how important the secondary may be?

First is still first, and there’s only one Person who comes first in that way.

That’s why I continue to shout from the rooftops that Donald Trump is my president, not my savior. It’s a positive message meant to unify, not a divisive message meant to provoke.

So, what it will be?

My hand of fellowship is extended, open, and ready. How about yours?

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words2yz posted a comment · Nov 21, 2018
The LORD'S desire and prayer was for unity in love and Spirit. One LORD, one faith, one baptism, One GOD and Father of all. AMEN
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Mathetria posted a comment · Nov 17, 2018
I did not vote for Candidate Trump because he was a reflection of my beliefs, or because he did and said everything according to the way I thought a certain subject should be addressed. In my view both Presidential candidates were severely flawed. In 2016 I did what I have done many times in the past, I prayed for guidance, held my nose, and voted for the one of the two flawed candidates that I hoped would be the best President for our country moving forward. I agree that there is no political solution to our nation’s greatest problems. I agree that if the body of Yeshua is divided, the world will mock. I heartily agree that the most important thing is that we unite in our love for the Lord and for our neighbor, and that the reputation of Yeshua is far more important than our political affiliation. It is the love that we show those in the body of Yeshua that will present us to the world as disciples of Yeshua. This love must be demonstrated across the political divide, for if we are divided over a lack of love for one another we will not be able to make our stand for Yeshua. I am committed to come along side you in the lordship of Yeshua and the authority of Scripture, and I stand firmly arm-in-arm with you to touch this broken nation in prayer for the one who is our President, and for the healing of the fractures that has become a detriment to our nation.
itsnotaboutme posted a comment · Nov 15, 2018
The problem is the extremes. One side says Trump can do no good, and the other says he can do no evil. The reality is that Trump is petty, peevish, proud, and profane BUT he has done many outstanding things as president. If only he could control his mouth and delete his twitter, he could become one of our greatest presidents. He could become as beloved as Reagan if he would stop turning allies into enemies with his foolish words.
Deancooper posted a comment · Nov 15, 2018
It's not just that some *think* Trump is our greatest president, while others *think* he is the worst. It's more that there's a mob on one side with pitchforks trying to destroy him and a mob on the other side trying to defend him. If you stand in the middle, you'll be attacked by *both* mobs! Unity is a bit hard when one Christian is so upset with Trump that he believes our country is being ruined, and the another is upset believing God picked Trump to save us from ruination. To me it's pretty clear why God picked Trump. No other candidate on the Right had it in them to fight the Left like he does. But that willingness to fight and ignore political correctness comes at a price. Still, you have to view this as our country choosing whether to head down the path that the Left offers, or choose the path that the Right offers. That should be the real discussion. Eventually Trump will be gone and we'll still need to choose which path we want for our nation.