Last week, I read a Banner article by Charlene Trino that has stayed with me. She reflects on how, after ending a 15-year friendship over political differences, she began asking: "When did our political or cultural identities begin to overshadow our identity in Christ?"
It’s a powerful and painful question. As Trino reminds us, "Scripture repeatedly calls us to unity," like in Ephesians 4, where Paul urges believers to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Our unity is not rooted in uniform agreement on every issue — it's rooted in our shared life in Christ.
Yet the pull of division is strong. Trino notes that "media ecosystems encourage us to view those who disagree as not just wrong, but morally deficient or even dangerous." Sadly, that attitude can creep into the church too. I can feel this in myself; I am too often tempted us to define people by their positions instead of seeing them as fellow image-bearers. I feel myself trying to figure out what they think of this issue or that issue, this politician or that politician, instead of connecting over our shared relationships with Christ.
What really moved me was her reflection on what builds true Christian community. "I’d forgotten our shared history — how she brought meals when my father was in hospice, how we prayed together through job losses and family struggles," Trino writes about a friend that she lost over political differences. Our relationships in Christ are made up not of political alignment but of years of showing up for each other in prayer, service, and compassion.
Unity doesn’t mean pretending our disagreements are unimportant. I have my convictions. But it means anchoring ourselves in something greater — in the One who holds us together. As Trino puts it, "Our primary citizenship isn’t in any earthly kingdom, but in God’s kingdom." In a polarized world, living out that reality is a powerful act of faith.
When you think about unity, what practices or perspectives have helped you stay grounded in Christ — even when you deeply disagree with someone you care about? How do you navigate relationships with others who have significant differences of thought than you do? Do you have any experiences of crossing boundaries and maintaining frienships with people who sit in a different political or ideological camp than you do?
Comments
One thing I've found helpful in navigating differences of thought of political ideology with others is to build trust. We always of something in common with others — similar concerns about our families, places we've both travelled too, similar things we've studied or experienced. I find this always helps me recognize that people's ideas and beliefs are complex, and that we always have a some point of similarity and trust that we can work from.
Does anyone else have specific examples of how you've built connections with people who think differently than you?
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