It’s vital to teach our children that we can love those that have a different view of the world.
By Dishon Mills, Pastor Steele Creek, NC
In high school, I was part of the debate team. Our motto was, “Meet interesting people and yell at them!” My time on the debate team provided me with an invaluable education. I learned how to argue both sides of an issue, think quickly on my feet, and thoroughly research a topic using reliable sources. I also got a lot of practice speaking in front of people, which, given what I do now, was a gift from God. In addition to these skills, I also learned to appreciate another person’s perspective. By arguing for viewpoints I did not share, I developed an appreciation for other ways of thinking.
Sadly, this characteristic seems to be in short supply. Our political climate has become volatile, divisive, and uncivil. As we approach another presidential election, we are bombarded by attack ads and smear campaigns, and our children witness it all. Whether we like it or not, our politics are teaching our young people to dislike those with whom they disagree and to avoid compromise. They are being taught that decency and empathy are unnecessary, and truth is subjective. Fortunately, Jesus teaches us a better way.
In James 1:19-21, we read:
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21 NIV)
James’ guidance feels quite relevant. It is important that we teach our children about passages like this. It is equally important that we provide our young people opportunities to disagree without disliking. This starts with our view of others. In the book, The Third Option, Pastor Miles McPherson provides Christ-centered ways to heal our divisions. In his book he speaks about “in-groups,” those that we consider are “like us” (i.e. are the same or similar as us), and “out-groups,” those we consider are “not like us.” We tend to give preferential treatment to those in our in-group and view them in a favorable light. Those in our out-group are often dehumanized and viewed in a negative light. Christ, through his life, death, resurrection and ascension, moved all humanity to God’s in-group. As his followers, we should do likewise. The key to moving a person from our out-group to our in-group is to find a similarity.
We can come against the divisiveness to which our young people are exposed by emphasizing that all humanity is made in the image of God that we all belong to Christ. We can challenge them (and ourselves) to find something in common with those with a different political stance. We can show them how to separate a person’s behavior from their identity and value in Christ. This alone does not heal the harm done by our political polarization. The hard work of reconciliation still must be done; however, we can start that work from the place of our common humanity. We can teach our children that we can love those that have a different view of the world. Even as we exercise our rights as citizens to vote against and peacefully resist unjust leaders and harmful laws, we can do so from a place of love.
We can teach our young people that they, too, are invited to participate in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. We can teach them that Jesus is greater than political divisions, and he has overcome the world. We can teach them the way of love and peace in the Spirit. Perhaps, if we do this well, our children can grow to become leaders and voters who know how to disagree without disliking.
