I do not need to remind you we live in a divided world. In fact, in the last year or so, divisions have rapidly intensified. Racism feeds strife amongst different cultures and ethnicities. Political turmoil causes countries to fracture into diametrically opposed parties. Denominationalism seeks to divide the one body—the church we read about in Ephesians 4. And even in the one church, Christians sometimes divide into various camps for such trivial reasons as, for example, who had baptized them (1 Cor. 1:10-17). What is the answer to all of this division?
The answer is love. Love can cure societal ills such as racism and political partisanship. Love can reunite the religiously divided and eliminate selfish tendencies such as those described in 1 Corinthians.
Let me explain.
Jesus taught a groundbreaking lesson against racism in Luke 10. Beginning in verse 30, Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan. Prompted by the question, “Who is my neighbor,” Jesus explained that a certain man (presumably Jewish) was beaten, robbed, and left for dead while on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. By chance, a priest and a Levite came by the scene of the crime at different times, but rather than stopping to help, they both “passed by on the other side.” Clearly, these seemingly religious men had no concern for their brother. Were they even truly religious if they didn’t even care to help this poor soul?
Later on, “a certain Samaritan” came by and, this time, the wounded man was rescued … by a Samaritan (That’s important.)! The text says that the Samaritan “had compassion” on him. He bound the man’s wounds, set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and paid the bill. He then promised to come back and pay anything else owed when he returned. If you look up the Greek word for “compassion,” it means deep-seated sympathy, pity, or compassion. Such compassion can only be motivated by love.
Incidentally, Samaritans were absolutely hated by the Jews, and the feeling was usually mutual! The Bible says plainly, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). One of the reasons for this was that the Samaritans were a mix of Jewish and Gentile ethnicity (This occurred during the Assyrian captivity of Israel in 722 B.C.). The “pure blooded” Jews grew to despise the Samaritans for this. But notice the point that Jesus made with His parable. A Samaritan, not a Jew, was the only true neighbor of this beaten and robbed man. Love was the cure for deep-seated racism! Do you think this particular Jew still had animosity toward Samaritans after these events? I would think not! The answer to racial division is love.
Moving on toward political divisions, we note that the nation and the world is, perhaps, more sharply divided for political reasons at this time than it has been in many years. Without getting into the gory details, one can certainly see how true this is by witnessing the bitter name calling, the harsh rhetoric, the belittling of individuals who disagree with one another, and the lining up along party lines and refusing to work together for the common good of society. The gridlock is truly saddening, and saddening still is the embrace of clearly unbiblical morals in the name of standing by political parties.
What could heal this sharp divide? Again, the answer is love. “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom” (Prov. 13:10). I’m reminded again of the Corinthian church, who in 1 Cor. 12-14 is described as pridefully dividing themselves up over spiritual gifts. In particular, the Corinthians esteemed tongue-speaking as the greatest gift and argued and divided to the point that Paul said, “There should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” (1 Cor. 12:25). He then went on to write one of the greatest Biblical chapters on love—1 Corinthians 13. In it, Paul said:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:1-8a)
Our politicians need to be well-versed in this chapter! Clearly, most of them have not read it in a long time. “Love suffers long and is kind.” When was the last time that characterized a politician’s rhetoric? (Thankfully, there are a few politicians who do abide by this, but they are few and far between). “Love does not envy.” Envy is at the root of many political policies, such as those that seek to shift wealth back and forth between opposing beneficiaries like shifting sands. “Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” I have seen many prideful political parades, but I don’t believe that they could be characterized by love! Love “does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” Again, sadly, most politicians in this postmodern world are characterized by the exact opposite of those words! Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Imagine if this motto were standard for all politicians. Oh, how the gridlock would change! The answer to political strife is love.
Finally, what about religious division? This one is easy because we’ve already covered it. First Cor. 12:25, 1 Cor. 13, and similar passages are the answer! The Bible condemns religious division (John 17:20-23; 1 Cor. 1:10ff). The Bible teaches that there is one church, and that church must keep the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:1ff). The way we do that is by uniting in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9). We unite in our love for Him and His commandments, which are not grievous (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3), and we unite in our love for one another (John 13:34-35; 15:12; 1 Pet. 4:8; Rom. 12:10; 13:8; 1 John 3:18; 4:7-11). If we truly love one another and love God, we will seek to be united in His will and in His love. The answer to religious division is love.
Oh, how many of the world’s problems could be cured with love! Imagine how much division could be healed. No wonder Jesus said that the two greatest commandments both involved love!
