Politics, once a side topic, has become a driving force for division among Christians that determines who we trust, respect and even pray with. This division shows up as both polarization and conflict. Polarization occurs when we solely associate with those who share our political beliefs. Conflicts include any situation in which we choose aggression, humor, hostility or another characteristic which neglects grace, understanding and respect.
This presents an issue in Christian communities because endorsing polarizing actions and attitudes serves as a misrepresentation of who Christ is; that is, considering we are called to reflect him (1 John 1:7). By sorting ourselves or deciding how we feel about others based on political beliefs, we send the message that unity in Christ is unattainable without political unity.
The Public Religion Research Institute recorded that both major political parties are majority Christian. Eighty-three percent of Republicans and 69% of Democrats identify as Christian. So it’s bitter to read that according to a Pew Research study, 55% of Republicans say Democrats are “more immoral” when compared with other Americans and 47% of Democrats say the same about Republicans. In September 2019, 79% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans stated they viewed the opposing party with negative sentiment (Pew Research). Why is it that Christians are so quick to abandon biblical principles because of politics?
Many things contribute to the problem of politically driven polarization and conflicts, including social media, generation gaps and our fleeting sense of open-mindedness. Social media contributes to and intensifies this issue because it’s designed to validate our beliefs. When someone likes a video/post that leans politically one way, it often opens a floodgate to information that will lean further towards one political side.
Statistically, as Americans age, they become more conservative, so when young churchgoers enter into older congregations, it can lead to differing ideals. Those who may not lean politically one way or another may fear being a part of a church where there’s tension or pressure to pick a political side. They will polarize themselves by separating altogether from the church.