Praying About The Things That Divide Us

 What divides us?  Some days I wonder if the question is, what doesn’t divide us?  So many issues on the news, on social media, in conversation seem to have people thinking and sharing from places far to either side of issues.  I’m wondering what happened to how we are thinking people, conversing with one another – oh sure, agreeing to disagree on some issues – but without the anger and vitriol that seems to permeate conversations these days.  What happened to being curious together rather than suspecting anyone who sees an issue differently from us; seeking to solve problems together rather than attacking each other; helping each other instead of competing with one another?

We have those who are anxious to get vaccinated and anti-vaxxers.  Those who’ve worn masks to protect themselves and others from covid-19 and those who protest their freedom to do as they like and stay mask free.  And we’re not even going to begin to mention anything that goes on in houses of parliament with the various political parties.  It’s all so intense and often ugly.  Where has a sense of community and the common good and sticking together through hard times gone?

Jesus spoke about the impact of this kind of civil war in a community or a society when he said:

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. Matthew 12:25

Well, on every side I see signs of things falling apart, don’t you? What might it take for us to find a new way forward, even in these days of sinful darkness across our societies, where we respect and learn from one another, give each other freedom to walk a path different from the one we are on, and somehow still keep the way open for communication and an opportunity to share the gospel in a fruitful way? 

We are instructed: They must seek peace and pursue it. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.   1 Peter 3:11, Romans 12:18  Are we doing that today in all our relationships, in all the circumstances where we find ourselves challenged, irritated, frustrated, harassed, misunderstood?

Jesus gave us the way forward and it’s not an easy way but in His strength, and under His guidance we can live that way today – and friends, if we are to be effective witnesses for the Lord Jesus today – we must.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.  Ephesians 2:14-16

I think we first have to ask ourselves if we are willing to have walls of hostility that separate us torn down?  While it always takes 2 parties to really get the job done, have we done all that we can, “as far as it depends on us” to be those who live in peace and continue to be available to those who disagree with us, to pray for them, to cooperate in whatever areas of good we have in common, and live a clear Gospel witness as we do? 

While it may seem impossible and we may not see the way forward, God will show us a path if we seek it from Him and faithfully put one foot in front of the other to walk with Him.

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Oh Lord, what seems impossible with us is possible with You.  Where sin and rebellion separated us from You, You made a way.  We live in a world whose perspective and actions have been twisted and polluted by sin and rebellion.  Oh Lord, help us to have faith to believe that You’ve not lost Your power to break down walls through truth and love and forgiveness.  Jesus, Your sacrifice on the cross was too precious to have us consider it without power to solve today’s issues in our divided societies.

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2

Lord help us to pray, help us to do all that is in our power today to live with compassion and respect, speak the truth in love and be those people who build community rather than walls.  Forgive us for the many times we fall short either by what we say and do or by how we avoid and just keep distance from those with whom we disagree.  We know we live in dark times and we may even get scorned and attacked by those we seek to love but we will remember how You hung on the cross and died for those who scorned You while You did it: 

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  Matthew 27:39, 42-43

Lord, we don’t see a clear way forward.  All we know today is that You have made a way through Jesus and You want to use us, empowered by Your Spirit to walk in Your way and invite others to join us.  Give us wise and discerning hearts as we reach across the angry divides in our families and our communities and help us to be those who contribute to the peace of Christ in our own hearts and in the hearts and minds of all with whom we work and relate. 

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21