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The fractures that divide our society are widening. This isn't some keen observation, just a simple stating of fact. It's what you see every time you stop for coffee, browse your Facebook wall, or turn on the news. Every day the battle lines are being re-drawn, bolder, and more well defined than the previous day. Opinions and beliefs are entrenched and hardened, like bunkers on a beach. Neighbours don't understand each other, they hold views so fundamentally opposed to each other that they can no longer recognize their fellow man AS a person. They become an "other” an enemy to be wary of and keep at a distance.
People retreat into their bubbles. They slowly drift away from friends they disagree with. They prune their social media lists to only reinforce their own opinions, a perfect little walled garden. They only pay attention to media that caters to them and presents the news of the day through the lens they want to see the world through, regardless of reality. They write everyone else off.
But, if we want to live as real Christians, as followers who believe in the word of the Bible and strive to emulate Christ, I'm telling you right now - we don't have the luxury of writing people off.
We don't get to pretend that the people we disagree with, no matter how vehemently, don't exist. We don't get to de-humanize them as abstract "others” or "lost causes” or "evil.” If we want to live up to the example Jesus set, we can't lose faith in our fellow man or refuse to work with them.
There will always be disagreements, but there doesn't have to be divides. We can build bridges.
The real test of our convictions will never be found in a room full of nodding heads and mutual agreement. It's easy to be a Christian among other Christians. Who we really are is defined by how we treat those who disagree with us. How we conduct ourselves when faced with conflict. How we find the respect, humility, and courage to stand by our convictions, but also find ways to reach common ground and civility with those that hold completely different values.
You might say that at a certain point, this is impossible. That there is just no reasoning with some people, or the points you disagree on are just too big, too important to allow for any kind of understanding or tolerance.
To that, I can only say "try harder.”
The bible is full of examples for us to follow. Look at Joseph, a man of God betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and later imprisoned under false pretenses. He found a way to be true and faithful to God (he never hid his beliefs or compromised them) while working directly under the Pharaoh of Egypt. Even in a relationship as skewed between that of king and servant with vastly different points of view, Joseph remained honest and faithful to God while still finding a way to make it work.
Joseph isn't just an example of proudly living in Christ while in a disadvantageous position either. When he was the one holding power he made it work too. Even towards his vile brothers, the ones who tried to murder him out of petty jealousy and sold him away as a slave like an afterthought, when they came begging and scraping at his feet decades later, did Joseph twist the knife? Did he take revenge? Did he even enjoy a cheap laugh? No. He embraced them and forgave them. That's the power of building bridges. Whatever disagreements you have with others, they're probably not as profound as attempted fratricide.
We face tough issues. Politics, racial injustice, economic injustice, sexuality, and a generation speeding away from the Church and towards a hollow and vapid secularism. But we can't let these things separate us. We need to build bridges of understanding and work towards addressing these issues together.
Nobody has ever come to Christ because they were told they were wrong enough times. When you write a snarky comment on someone's blog or Facebook, do you think that's how Jesus would want you to try and reach a non-believer, one of his children?
We have to sit down with those we disagree with. We have to share out stories, our fears, and our values and work together to address the issues tearing society apart. Stop burning bridges and start building them.
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