Are You Loving Your Politically Different Neighbors?

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)

When we met at the end of high school, I was a Republican, and my husband was a Democrat. Over time, I’ve evolved into a moderate who leans Democrat, and he’s evolved into a conservative who leans libertarian. As a result, we’ve been fighting, on some level, over politics since 2016. Like the rest of the country, we just can’t get on the same page.

Now, here we are, four years later, and it’s a presidential election year, again.

I’m already bracing for the slew of political memes, sarcastic jokes, and negative articles that will undoubtedly fill social media over the course of the next ten months. I’m dreading the mean-spirited eye-rolls and sideways glances during backyard barbecues. I’m expecting a few mutilated car bumper stickers (this has already happened to my friend, twice) and vandalized front yard campaign signs. Such is life in politically polarized twenty-first-century America, I suppose.

Does it have to be this way, though? Do we have to take our frustrations with our government and elected officials out on our physical and online neighbors? Do we have to be spiteful when others disagree with our political views? Do we have to punish others when we lose the race?

Jesus commands his followers to love our neighbors as ourselves. He doesn’t tell us to love our neighbors only if they agree with us and vote the same way or love the same political party we do. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love your neighbor as yourself, even if your neighbor is a Democrat. Love your neighbor as yourself, even if your neighbor is a Republican. Love your neighbor as yourself, even if your neighbor adores President Trump. Love your neighbor as yourself, even if your neighbor despises Trump. Love your neighbor as yourself, even if their ideas for our country scare you.

Love your neighbor as yourself. Period. No fine print. No conditions or exclusions apply.

The apostle Paul instructed the believers at Ephesus to be kind and to forgive one another for the sake of unifying the church. He urged Christ’s new followers to put aside the personal and cultural differences that separated them and to move forward together as one body. I believe he would admonish us to do the same, regardless of any believers’ political affiliation or policy position.

I believe he would encourage us to invite our neighbors over for a cup of coffee and kind conversation. I believe he would encourage us to celebrate the diversity of cultures, ethnicities, and life stages present within our local communities. And I believe he would encourage us to listen to one another and, above all, to love and respect one another as image-bearers of God.

The global church is infinitely bigger than one country’s failing two-party system, after all. The body of Christ is made up of believers in every nation with a multitude of different backgrounds and ideas about politics and government.

We’re all citizens of heaven, first and foremost.

Father, please help us to remember that we were all created in your image, despite our many differences in priorities and viewpoints about our country’s future. Please help us to always be kind to our neighbors and respectful of our fellow believers, in both word and deed. Help us to remember that we are all citizens of your kingdom before we are citizens of our country. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39 ESV)

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:18-21 ESV)

Reach for More

How can you extend love, grace, and kindness to your neighbors and to your fellow believers, in particular, during this year’s election cycle? Ask God to give you simple daily reminders of ways to bless the people around you.

Lauren Flake writes about her journey as a wife, mom to two little girls and Alzheimer’s daughter in her native Austin, Texas, at For the Love of Dixie. Her first book, Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go? was published in 2016. She thrives on green tea, Tex-Mex, and all things turquoise.

Photograph © Priscilla Du Preez, used with permission