Overcoming Fear: Unity and Love in Politics

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound impact of fear on our political landscape and how it divides us. Fear, particularly the fear of loss, is a powerful motivator that can drive wedges between us. We fear losing control, opportunities, wealth, and the future for our children. For some, these fears are rooted in potential future losses, while for others, particularly our brown and black brothers and sisters, these fears are grounded in historical realities. This disparity in experience highlights the need for empathy and understanding in our interactions.

We have a unique opportunity to model a different way of engaging with politics—one that allows for disagreement while maintaining unconditional love. This is not an easy path, but it is a necessary one if we are to live out our faith authentically. The challenge is to evaluate our political beliefs through the lens of our Christian faith, rather than molding our faith to fit our political ideologies. This requires courage and a willingness to follow Jesus, even when it means distancing ourselves from our political parties or candidates.

The call is to be different from most Christians and churches, to strive for a unity that transcends political affiliations. By doing so, we can set an example for our community and perhaps even influence our nation. This is a call to action, to be a beacon of hope and love in a divided world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Fear as a Divider: Fear, particularly the fear of loss, is a significant factor in political division. It drives us to protect what we value, often at the expense of unity and understanding. Recognizing this fear in ourselves and others can help us bridge divides and foster empathy. [00:34]

2. Historical Realities: For many, particularly people of color, fear is not just about potential future losses but is rooted in historical experiences. Acknowledging these realities is crucial for genuine empathy and reconciliation. [01:01]

3. Modeling Love and Disagreement: We have the opportunity to model what it looks like to disagree politically while loving unconditionally. This requires a commitment to love that transcends political affiliations and personal biases. [01:17]

4. Faith Over Politics: Evaluating our political beliefs through the lens of our Christian faith challenges us to prioritize our spiritual values over political ideologies. This may create distance between us and our political parties, but it is essential for authentic discipleship. [01:34]

5. A Call to Action: We are called to be different from most Christians and churches by striving for unity and love that transcends political divisions. This is a challenging but necessary path to influence our community and nation positively. [02:14]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - The Power of Fear
[00:21] - What We Fear
[00:34] - Fear of Loss
[00:43] - Historical Realities
[01:01] - Recent History
[01:17] - Modeling Love and Disagreement
[01:34] - Faith Over Politics
[01:48] - Following Jesus Over Party
[02:01] - A Call to Be Different
[02:14] - Impacting Community and Nation

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
2. Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
3. Matthew 5:44 - "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are some specific fears mentioned in the sermon that contribute to political division? [00:21]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference in fear experiences between white people and people of color? [00:43]
3. What opportunity does the sermon suggest we have in terms of modeling political disagreement? [01:17]
4. According to the sermon, what challenge do Christians face when evaluating their political beliefs? [01:34]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does 1 John 4:18 relate to the sermon’s message about fear and love in political contexts?
2. In what ways might Philippians 2:3-4 challenge individuals to approach political discussions differently?
3. How can Matthew 5:44 be applied to the idea of loving unconditionally despite political disagreements? [01:17]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between faith and politics, and how might this impact a Christian's political engagement? [01:34]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent political discussion you had. How did fear play a role in that conversation, and how might you approach it differently next time? [00:21]
2. Consider the historical realities faced by people of color. How can acknowledging these experiences change the way you engage in political conversations? [00:43]
3. What steps can you take to model love and disagreement in your political interactions this week? [01:17]
4. Are there specific political beliefs you hold that might need reevaluation through the lens of your faith? How will you begin this process? [01:34]
5. Identify a political issue that causes division in your community. How can you be a beacon of hope and love in addressing this issue? [02:14]
6. Think of someone with whom you disagree politically. What is one practical way you can show them unconditional love this week? [01:17]
7. How can you encourage your church or small group to strive for unity that transcends political affiliations? [02:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Fear as a Divider
Fear can drive us apart, creating barriers that hinder understanding and unity. It often stems from the fear of losing what we hold dear, such as control, opportunities, or a secure future for our children. This fear can manifest differently across communities, with some fearing potential future losses and others, particularly people of color, experiencing fear rooted in historical injustices. Recognizing these fears in ourselves and others is the first step toward bridging divides and fostering empathy. By acknowledging the power of fear, we can begin to dismantle the walls it builds between us. [00:34]

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one fear that you recognize in yourself that might be causing division in your relationships? How can you begin to address this fear with love and understanding today?


Day 2: Historical Realities
For many, particularly people of color, fear is not just about potential future losses but is deeply rooted in historical experiences of injustice and discrimination. These historical realities shape their present fears and interactions. Acknowledging these experiences is crucial for genuine empathy and reconciliation. It requires us to listen actively and understand the historical context that influences the fears of others. By doing so, we can work towards healing and unity, recognizing that our shared humanity transcends our differences. [01:01]

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." (Isaiah 46:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you educate yourself about the historical realities that affect the fears of those around you? What steps can you take to listen and learn from their experiences today?


Day 3: Modeling Love and Disagreement
We have the opportunity to model what it looks like to disagree politically while loving unconditionally. This requires a commitment to love that transcends political affiliations and personal biases. It challenges us to engage in conversations with grace and humility, prioritizing relationships over being right. By doing so, we can create spaces where diverse perspectives are valued and respected. This approach not only strengthens our communities but also reflects the unconditional love that is central to our faith. [01:17]

"Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent political disagreement you had. How can you approach similar situations with love and grace, prioritizing the relationship over the need to be right?


Day 4: Faith Over Politics
Evaluating our political beliefs through the lens of our Christian faith challenges us to prioritize our spiritual values over political ideologies. This may create distance between us and our political parties, but it is essential for authentic discipleship. It requires courage to follow Jesus, even when it means standing apart from popular political opinions. By aligning our beliefs with our faith, we can live out our values with integrity and authenticity, setting an example for others to follow. [01:34]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do your political beliefs align or conflict with your Christian faith? How can you prioritize your spiritual values in your political engagements today?


Day 5: A Call to Action
We are called to be different from most Christians and churches by striving for unity and love that transcends political divisions. This is a challenging but necessary path to influence our community and nation positively. By embodying the principles of love, empathy, and understanding, we can become beacons of hope in a divided world. This call to action invites us to actively participate in creating a more unified and compassionate society, reflecting the love of Christ in all that we do. [02:14]

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to promote unity and love in your community, despite political differences? How can you be a beacon of hope and love in your interactions?

Quotes

Nothing divides like politics and the reason nothing divides like politics is because nothing divides like fear. I mean, you already know this, you've been a victim of this. You can raise a lot of money peddling fear, right? The Republicans are gonna take away your vote, the Democrats are gonna take away your guns, right? If the president is reelected, the end is near. If a Socialist Democrat is elected, the end is near. [00:01:32]

We actually all fear the same thing. We all fear loss. Loss of control, loss of opportunity, loss of our wealth, loss of the future for our children. Loss of our culture. Again, loss of our freedom. And here's the thing just to be super uncomfortable, white people, we all fear what might happen, our brown and black brothers and sisters, they fear what actually did happen because for them it's not theory, it's history. [00:31:29]

We have an unprecedented opportunity to model for our community and maybe model for our country what it looks like to disagree politically because we are going to disagree politically and at the same time, love unconditionally because we are going to love unconditionally. But here's my question. Do you want to do this? More to the point, and this is a tough one, are you willing to evaluate your politics through the filter of our faith? [00:66:66]

Are you willing to evaluate your politics through the filter of our faith, our historic Christian faith if you're a Christian, are you willing to evaluate your politics through the filter of our faith rather than create a version of faith that supports your politics? Are you willing to follow Jesus even when doing so creates space between you and your party, you and your party's platform? And you and your party's candidate? [00:94:06]

Most Christians aren't but I'm hoping that you're not most Christians and that we're not most churches. And that maybe we can get this right and we can get this right in such a way that it does something for other churches, our community, maybe our nation. [00:122:95]

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Transcript
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