Originally published in the Phila Inquirer 2/2007
While watching the President's state of the Union address last month, I became more convinced that the state of our union is one of disunity. From where they sit, to where they stand, and what draws their applause, our political leaders model the essence of disunity. I realize this is part of our country's political tradition and is orchestrated to build the faith of their political constituents. It is our right to disagree with each other, but the ability to remain unified while in disagreement is what sustains any worthwhile relationship. Marriages live or die on this very thing, and sports teams overachieve when unity is regarded as important as performance and more important than the any one player. Down through our history, unity despite disagreement has been a great strength of our country, but in recent years those that lead us have cared less about unity and more about control. It is the greatest threat our nation faces because it’s an internal threat that can weaken the core of our nation.
Christianity does not condemn disagreement nor instruct its followers to reject those who disagree with them. Jesus wanted disciples who were fervent followers committed to him and their faith, while at the same time living the greatest commandment: “To love your neighbor as yourself.” We cannot be faithful to God without loving our neighbors. He wanted wise, gentle servants who revealed his heart and life. Just days before his arrest and eventual crucifixion Jesus prayed for his followers, “my prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, father; that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me." John 17:21.
For Jesus, the unity of his followers is proof of a real relationship with God our creator. How they treated each other especially in conflict and disagreement would speak volumes about Christian’s authenticity. If we cannot love those with whom we agree, then how will we love those with whom we disagree? Jesus desire for us to be unified in and of itself an acknowledgement that there will be disagreement among us. When disagreement turns into division, we have forsaken Jesus’ example. To God, unity is a powerful tool. It is the choice of the individual to learn how to be uncompromising in his core values and beliefs without attacking and rejecting those who oppose them. It’s also a necessity for effective leadership. To be a great leader worthy of being followed while advancing one’s cause unity is a requirement. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Billy Graham epitomized the characteristic of unity while remaining committed to their God-given causes. This is what makes their legacies great.
Each day reveals the many opportunities to follow Christs teaching. God is not asking us to wait for our political leaders to show us the way, but rather to show them the way by how we treat each other.