Dust of Divisiveness
By Susan Klein
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic,
love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or
insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that
you may inherit a blessing.”
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
With a major
election upon us, the hazy “dust of divisiveness” is once again settling on our
nation. Amazing how two individuals can polarize a whole populace! The dust
seems to be a bit thicker than normal this time around. Has it settled on you?
Are there any particles of tension between you, family members or friends? I
think social media is displaying the greatest layer of dust.
So how do we keep
this ugly film off of our relationships? We can start by cleaning off our own
surfaces. I may not be able (nor am I responsible) to remove another’s dust,
but I surely can tend to my own. I’ve found a really great product for dust
removal. It’s called, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Maybe you’ve heard of
it? It’s been tried and tested for generations with great success. A little bit
goes a long way. Once applied, it seems to miraculously dissolve the dust.
All cunning aside, as
Christ-followers, we do have responsibilities to God and to each other in this
election. As in every situation, our words need to be God-honoring and should
also be used to encourage or edify each other. Not that we can’t speak out against
injustices, especially if they are harmful to others. But we must be careful to not be in the habit
of projecting our opinions onto others - - or judging theirs. God’s Word
admonishes us to do everything in our power to live in harmony with one another,
showing love amidst our differences and being a testimony to the world of God’s
great unifying love.
In the greater
scheme of things, how we treat each other bears far more weight than how we
vote. Lest we forget, God establishes the kings on their thrones for His divine
purpose. His will can be accomplished with or without our help. Let’s focus on doing
our part to wash away the dust of divisiveness and promote a spirit of peace
and unity.
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Where might there be evidence of
divisiveness in any of your relationships?
2. What
can you do to promote harmony, especially with other Christ-followers?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan is married to Mark, and
has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and
tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at
Oakwood and also co-leads a small group.
