Divisiveness

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. Titus 3:10 (NIV)

 

It is almost laughable that this passage is a part scripture we claim follow. It is such an American value today to be a highly opinionated, "my way or the highway," partisan, black and white person. I see it on TV, in politics, on the radio and even in Facebook. That is, divide people into two camps: good people (who agree with us) and foolish idiots deserving of mockery.

 

What makes us so willing to ignore our God? Maybe it stems from a desire to have something simple (black and white) in our very frenzied and complicated lives. Maybe it is the need to pump up our own flagging egos, sort of like identifying with the team that is #1. Maybe we have no outlet for the pressures in our life that is so demanding and we look for easy targets.

 

Whatever the reason is, God reminds us that divisive people are community wreckers and that God has placed us in communities because we are too fragile to go it alone – no matter how seductive that image is. When we tolerate divisiveness, in ourselves or others, we fracture the Creation God loves so much. When Jesus prays in John 17 that we all be "one," he echoes the seamlessness of God's Creation. Unity builds up, uniformity tears down. Divisiveness stems from the desire to have uniformity.

 

Lord, let me be a unifier and a bridge-builder today – not ignoring my convictions but valuing your passion for community.