In Matthew 12:22-28 the story is told of a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute and was brought to Jesus for healing. After Jesus healed the man, the crowd posed the question: “Could this be the Son of David?” The crowd was not yet convinced; the evidence of the healing, however, made them ponder the truth about Jesus.The question from the crowd piqued the curiosity of the Pharisees. In the Pharisees’ refusal to accept the possibility that this could indeed be the Son of David, they said: “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons.” The Pharisees sought to discredit the idea of Jesus as the Son of David by attributing His power to cast out the demons to Satan. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, responded: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand:And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?”
Jesus’ response in this story brings to light the danger of division, the danger of polarization. Jesus stated it plainly: a kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself cannot stand. In simple terms, division lacks power! In The Desire of Ages Ellen G. White shares the following on this biblical passage: “Christ told [the Pharisees] plainly that in attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, they were cutting themselves off from the fountain of blessing.”1
When we think about the condition of our church today, it is evident that one of the enemy’s tactics is to destroy the church through polarization. There is so much division on various issues. The increase in polarization detracts from the ultimate mission of the church. In The Acts of the Apostles there is a clear statement regarding the work of God’s church: “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ the final and full display of the love of God.”2 With such an important mandate, there is no doubt as to why the devil has made it a priority to attack the church. A divided church will have little to no impact to do the work that God has called for us to do in these last days, and for that reason it is important for pastors and members to address polarization in the church.
The increase in polarization detracts from our ultimate mission.
While the Bible must serve as our ultimate guide for foundational principles on every topic, in addressing the impact of polarization it is also important to consider the influence of worldview. Worldview is defined as “a comprehensive framework of ideas and attitudes about the world, ourselves, and life, a system of beliefs, a system of personally customized theories about the world and how it works—with answers for a wide range of questions.”3. This definition considers not only the beliefs and ideas that one has, but also the interpretation of those beliefs in the world around us. Addressing polarization in the body of Christ will require a multifaceted approach to understanding Scripture and worldview with the goal of unification through the leading of the Holy Spirit. If not addressed effectively, polarization can exacerbate misunderstandings, impede willingness to find common ground, and inhibit effective communication among members, thus leading to a dysfunctional and unproductive church.
Below are 10 steps that could prove to be effective in addressing polarization in the church, regardless of the topic:
1. Prayer for Unity. It is important to make the topic of polarization a matter of prayer. Praying specifically for unity and wisdom within the church. Encouraging one another to pray for each other, especially for those with differing views on various topics. Ephesians 4:3 reminds us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (NIV).
2. Emphasizing Core Christian Values. It is important to focus on the key teachings of Jesus, such as compassion, love, service, and humility. We must remember that our identity is found in Christ, not in our political, economic, or social affiliations. With an emphasis on Christ, the mission of the church will organically be prioritized. Philippians 4:8 reminds us of the values of such a focus: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (KJV).
3. Fostering a Safe Space for Open Dialogue. It is important to have a space where topics can be discussed openly and respectfully. The goal is to encourage active listening and understanding versus promoting a forum of debate. The pastor or church elder should seek to facilitate a discussion on the items most pressing in the congregation. This forum should address the concept of worldviews and how it shapes our beliefs and values.
4. Promoting Biblical Literacy. It is important to encourage a prayerful study of the Word of God together, as the Bible should be our guidebook on all topics. The entire biblical canon should be utilized to gain insights. As Isaiah 28:10 points out: “For preceptmust be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” In his book Canonical Theology, John Peckham states that “a canonical ‘system’ looks beyond (without overlooking) the limits of individual texts and passages, viewing its parts in light of the whole and its whole in light of its parts without imposing one upon the other.”4 Through intentional exploration of the entire canon, the Holy Spirit will provide greater insights on topics.
5. Encouraging Service. When we work together toward a common goal, it helps to foster a deeper sense of community, shared mission, and purpose and promotes effortless communication. Engaging in service together will create an easier platform to discuss more challenging conversations.
6. Accentuating Common Ground. We must help each other recognize the areas of commonality. Regardless of the topic, there are always areas of common ground. The differences usually vary on approach; the end goal, however, is often similar. When more emphasis is placed on the end goal, the possibility for unity is increased, and Christ-centered values are more pronounced.
7. Providing Education on Topics in Debate. Many church disputes are driven by opinions versus factual data. It is important to provide factual data on the topic at hand. If the topic is political in nature, nonpartisan educational sessions on political issues from a Christian perspective may prove to be helpful. This can help understand different viewpoints and make informed decisions. We should also understand that not every personal view or value needs to be made into law. God values free will, and Christians should seek to ensure that freedom is protected.
8. Teaching Conflict Resolution. Conflict is inevitable wherever people are present. The goal should not be conflict avoidance, but conflict resolution. By equipping and teaching the biblical principles of peacemaking and conflict resolution, as outlined in Matthew 18, we will be more adept at handling disagreements constructively.
9. Modeling Unity From Leadership. There is a quote from a poem by Edgar Guest that states: “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one.” It is important for pastors and church leaders not simply to preach the principles of unity, but to model the principles of unity. The pulpit should not be used as a platform to push political or religious agendas, but should focus on biblical teaching and principles that transcend the polarizing views in society. There is only one guaranteed method to reach people for the kingdom, and that is Christ’s method: “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”5
10. Celebrating Diversity. We should encourage one another to embrace and celebrate the diversity within the church as a strength. Approaching differing perspectives from a place of unity will foster a deeper and richer understanding of how to reach people from all walks of life while enhancing our personal understanding of various topics.
Polarization within the body of Christ is not a new phenomenon. All throughout Scripture we see evidence of division in the church: the tribes in the Old Testament, conflicts within the early church, differences between Jews and Gentiles, and the present issues in our church today. Though the challenges of polarization may remain with us until Jesus’ return, we must remember that there are biblical principles that can help us overcome division and focus on God’s greater purpose—the salvation of souls.
The apostle Paul stated it best in 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (NIV). For us to complete the work that God has called us to do, let us embody this call to unity so that we will reflect God’s ideal for His appointed agency on earth.
1 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898, 1940), pp. 321, 322.
2 Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), p. 9.
3 B. Sanou, “The Impact of Worldview on the Theological and Missiological Thought and Praxis of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Journal of Adventist Mission Studies 11, no. 2 (2015): 12-23.
4 J.Peckham, Canonical Theology: The Biblical Canon, Sola Scriptura, and Theological Method (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016).
5 Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 143.