What Divides Us

What divides us?  Some days I wonder if the question is, what doesn’t divide us?  I’m wondering what happened to how we used to think about people and converse with one another – oh sure, we had to agree to disagree on some issues – but we somehow seemed to do it 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; or seeking to solve problems together rather than attacking each other; helping each other instead of competing with one another? Where has that sense of community, seeking the common good, and sticking together through hard times gone?

Jesus spoke about the impact 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 Lord, on every side we see signs of things falling apart in more ways than we can list. We want to do things differently. 

Help us Lord to find a new way forward, 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? 

God’s Word also  instructs us: 

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 

Oh God, 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. Amen

So, let’s be people who build community with one another today rather than walls.