I have friends who are liberal and friends who are conservative. I have friends who are Republicans and friends who are Democrats. I have friends who are gay and friends who are straight. I have friends who are pro-life and friends who are pro-choice. I have friends who are socialists and friends who are capitalists. I have friends who are atheists and friends who believe in God. I have friends who are Evangelical and friends who are Pentecostal. I have friends who are pro-Brexit and friends who are anti-Brexit. I have friends who are Calvinists and friends who are Armenian. I have friends who love WHATABURGER and friends who love IN-N-OUT.
As this election season draws to a close, I have witnessed the carnage of many broken relationships on social media that were brutally sacrificed on an altar of a political ideology or identity.
And it breaks my heart.
The beauty of unity is not that we all have to agree, but that we choose to love, respect, and even serve those with whom we have considerable differences. Do we ignore those differences? No. But we certainly don't have to let them become stumbling blocks to loving those who think or believe something different.
I can hear some of you saying, ”Yes, but...”.
Unconditional love (the love Jesus offers you) doesn’t have a ”but.” Jesus doesn't let you pick and choose who to love.
He said ”love your enemies.” He said ”love those who persecute you.” Most importantly, He said, ”love one another as I have loved you.”
I don't believe Jesus left any room for a grey area.
Every friend of yours is created in the image of God. Therefore, every time you see him or talk with her, you experience something of God that you will never find anywhere else. But if you choose to define them by their politics, perspectives, or opinions, you will miss God at work every single time.
Let's focus on winning hearts, not arguments.
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