A People Divided

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 1 Timothy 1:3-6

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 62-64; 1 Timothy 1

It really is sad how divided we are. We tend to look at ourselves as belonging to specific affiliations. We are black or white, male or female, republican or democrat, liberal or conservative. Some of us are for gay marriage and others against, some will tolerate abortion others will not. Some of us feel a duty to help the poor while still others want to find ways for the poor to help themselves.

These issues serve as dividing lines for our community. We like to take inventory of what others believe when it comes to these things and judge them accordingly.

Putting people and things into boxes may seem to make us feel more comfortable but it is really destructive. Through our desire to categorize and feel some measure of control we only end up dividing and destroying. We make the work of loving our neighbors as ourselves all the more difficult when we decide that “our neighbors” are only people who believe what we believe and do what we do.

The great challenge that we have in this tumultuous time is not to identify what is different between us; but rather what we have in common. What can we all agree on that will help the next man or woman? It is through this agreement that we will be able to sow the seeds of healing, prosperity, and community.

Let’s try to remain focused on what really matters. Everyone is our neighbor and worthy of our love.