Recently there was a cultural explosion over a Nike ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. It was a spillover from last year's divisive issue of NFL players taking a knee as a sign of protest against social injustices in America, which they did during the national anthem. Unless you have lived as a nomad with no access to the news and social media or have just been completely cut off from the outside world, you have been exposed to these conversations. As with any controversial issue in culture, people choose sides and have an opinion, which is fine and well, but they lose their minds in the way they speak to others who see it differently. People say some of the most hurtful, and harsh things about others who see things differently than them. They get so worked up that the person who views the issue differently becomes an opponent. It's no longer about the issue at hand, it's about me versus you. Now I wish I was able to say that if the world would just look to the church, it would see an example for how to navigate these issues in love and unity. But the church seems to be just as hostile and politicized in the way we deal with these issues as the world. Instead of thermostats that influence the culture, we seem to be thermometers that reflect it. Here's what I mean. On social media and in public dialogue the past few months, Christians have weighed in heavily over this Nike ad deal. They have made many insensitive, cutting remarks towards people who disagreed with them. I'm just going to tell you it looked really, really bad. If I was an unchurched person or a person who was skeptical about what churches believed and taught, I would not be drawn to the gospel. Disunity is a major stumbling block. We aren't talking about the stumbling block and the offense that the gospel already presents, we are talking about a shoe commercial which exposes some deeper sin issues. As disciples of Jesus Christ, there is a lot at stake here. Jesus says in John 17 that the oneness of his disciples would be an apologetic to the world that God truly sent him and the gospel is true. (John 17:20-23) It's our love for one another that shows the world we are His disciples. (John 13:34-35) Consider Colossians 3.
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,compassionate hearts, kindness,humility, meekness, and patience,bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."- Colossians 3:12-15
The church must be able to have relationships that demonstrate compassion, empathy, and love even when we disagree with each other on things. For only then will we have truly diverse relationships that display the beauty of the gospel. I believe this will be the key factor in whether or not we reach our rapidly diversifying culture and make disciples during divided times. As you are discipling people, there are two areas that I think will equip us all to fight for unity.
Teach people to have conversations with others, seeking to understand before being understood- Every one of us comes from a different experience and perspective. If we are doing church correctly, where Jesus has purchased people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language we are going to come with different cultural experiences that cause us to view the world differently. I personally view Nike, protests, and Kaepernick differently than many brothers and sisters that I love simply because we have been shaped by different experiences culturally. We have different realities of growing up in America as it pertains to race and justice and other things. The Bible doesn't call us to see every issue the same way. But it does call us to compassion, forgiveness, love, and the peace of Christ. One thing that will grow this compassion is talking to people, seeking to listen first. Teach people the importance of listening to people who are different than them. Teach them to listen to their experiences growing up and what has shaped the way they view things. I have found that when we take time to listen to people's stories it becomes increasingly difficult to be insensitive when the next culturally divisive thing happens. At the very least we walk away saying I don't see the same as you, but I feel your pain and I empathize, which is a gospel implication.
Teach people to make their first allegiance the kingdom of Christ, above all- Any cause, any agenda, identity, any political view that gets our highest allegiance other than Jesus is called an idol. The problem with division usually comes when we allow those things to become our primary allegiance. Now when people start knocking my idols, on come the boxing gloves, and I'm ready for war. We are to be citizens of the kingdom first. (Phil. 3:20) Our primary allegiance should be Jesus. Teach people to let the exclusiveness of Jesus be what we are dogmatic about. Teach them to let salvation by grace through faith alone be what we are dogmatic about. Teach them to let loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves be what we are dogmatic about. Now with those other issues we are free to take a stand or not based on your own experiences, but those other things cannot have such an ownership that it causes us to be able to walk in peace and unity with those who differ.
Making The Most of Limited Time For Discipleship
Jim Putman shares his thoughts on how Jesus made the most of the limited time that he had for disciple making. This should be helpful for those of us who feel crunched for time to invest in others.
http://jimputman.com/2018/10/09/if-you-have-limited-time-for-discipleship-youd-better-be-doing-this-to-gain-the-most-impact/