Unity in Christ Beyond Political Divisions
Summary
### Summary
In the first century, much like today, people tried to align Jesus with their political views. Both Republicans and Democrats believe Jesus would support their respective platforms. However, Jesus did not come to take sides but to introduce the Kingdom of God, which often conflicts with human political systems. The Kingdom of God is characterized by values such as leveraging wealth and power for the less fortunate and loving others as Jesus loved us. This love is the "law of Christ," which should inform our conscience and guide our actions.
The Apostle Paul emphasized the "law of Christ" in his letters, urging believers to love one another as Jesus loved them. This love should be the uniting ethic for all Christians, transcending political affiliations. Paul demonstrated this by becoming "a slave to everyone" to win as many as possible to Christ. He adapted to different cultural contexts while remaining under the law of Christ, which is to love others selflessly.
Historically, the law of Christ has influenced significant social changes, such as the abolition of slavery and the condemnation of infanticide. Early Christians, motivated by love, rescued abandoned babies and opposed societal norms that devalued human life. This ethic of love and respect for human dignity has shaped Western culture and continues to be relevant today.
As followers of Jesus, our conscience should be informed by the law of Christ, and we should incorporate knowledge and wisdom to guide our political views and actions. This means being open to new information and perspectives, even if they challenge our current beliefs. We should listen to and learn from those who experience the world differently, fostering understanding and unity.
Ultimately, our political views should not divide us as Christians. We must prioritize our faith and the law of Christ over political affiliations. By doing so, we can demonstrate to the world that it is possible to disagree politically while loving unconditionally and striving for unity.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus Came to Introduce the Kingdom of God: Jesus did not come to align with any political party but to introduce the Kingdom of God, which often conflicts with human political systems. This Kingdom values leveraging wealth and power for the less fortunate and loving others selflessly. [03:39]
2. The Law of Christ as Our Guiding Ethic: The Apostle Paul emphasized the "law of Christ," which is to love one another as Jesus loved us. This love should inform our conscience and guide our actions, transcending political affiliations and uniting all believers. [06:18]
3. Historical Impact of the Law of Christ: The law of Christ has historically influenced significant social changes, such as the abolition of slavery and the condemnation of infanticide. Early Christians, motivated by love, opposed societal norms that devalued human life, demonstrating the transformative power of Christ's teachings. [15:03]
4. Incorporating Knowledge and Wisdom: As followers of Jesus, we should incorporate knowledge and wisdom into our informed conscience. This means being open to new information and perspectives, even if they challenge our current beliefs. Our faith should not fear science or discovery but embrace them to better understand God's creation. [22:59]
5. Unity in Diversity: Our political views should not divide us as Christians. We must prioritize our faith and the law of Christ over political affiliations. By listening to and learning from those who experience the world differently, we can foster understanding and unity, demonstrating that it is possible to disagree politically while loving unconditionally. [28:58]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:19] - Jesus and Political Filters
[03:39] - Jesus Came to Take Over
[04:58] - The Kingdom of God vs. Political Parties
[06:18] - The Law of Christ
[07:34] - Paul's Mission and the Law of Christ
[08:48] - Paul's Adaptation to Reach Gentiles
[10:03] - Carry Each Other's Burdens
[11:29] - The Collective Conscience
[12:32] - Policy and the Law of Christ
[13:05] - Historical Self-Evidence of Slavery
[15:03] - Augustine and the Sin of Slavery
[15:36] - Infanticide and Christian Opposition
[17:12] - Love Required It
[18:13] - Constantine and Valentinian's Reforms
[19:21] - The Timelessness of Jesus' Command
[19:51] - The Church's Role in Shaping Conscience
[20:22] - Incorporating Knowledge and Wisdom
[22:59] - Embracing Science and Discovery
[24:38] - The Problem of Disagreement
[25:18] - Miles' Law and Perspective
[26:58] - Political Unity and Maturity
[28:58] - Understanding Different Perspectives
[30:29] - Listen, Learn, and Love
[32:18] - No One is Crazy
[33:37] - Never Burn Relational Bridges
[34:27] - The Preciousness of People
[36:03] - Disagree Politically, Love Unconditionally
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 6:2 (NIV): "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
2. 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 (NIV): "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by the "law of Christ" in Galatians 6:2 and 1 Corinthians 9:21?
2. How did Paul adapt his behavior to reach different groups of people according to 1 Corinthians 9:19-21?
3. What historical examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the impact of the law of Christ on society? [15:03]
4. According to the sermon, what should inform our conscience and guide our actions as followers of Jesus? [06:18]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the "law of Christ" challenge our political affiliations and views? [04:58]
2. In what ways did early Christians demonstrate the law of Christ through their actions, as mentioned in the sermon? [15:36]
3. How can incorporating knowledge and wisdom into our faith help us better understand and apply the law of Christ? [22:59]
4. What does it mean to prioritize our faith and the law of Christ over political affiliations, and how can this be practically applied in our lives? [28:58]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your political views conflicted with the teachings of Jesus. How did you handle that situation, and what would you do differently now? [04:58]
2. How can you actively carry each other's burdens in your community, as Paul instructs in Galatians 6:2? What specific actions can you take this week? [10:03]
3. Think of a person who has a different political view than you. How can you listen to and learn from their perspective to foster understanding and unity? [30:29]
4. Identify one area in your life where you need to incorporate more knowledge and wisdom to better align with the law of Christ. What steps will you take to gain that knowledge? [22:59]
5. How can you ensure that your political views do not divide you from other Christians? What practical steps can you take to prioritize your faith over political affiliations? [28:58]
6. Reflect on the historical impact of the law of Christ mentioned in the sermon. How can you contribute to social change in your community by living out the law of Christ? [15:03]
7. What specific actions can you take to demonstrate unconditional love to someone with whom you politically disagree? How can this help in fostering unity within the church? [36:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Came to Introduce the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is not aligned with any political party or human system. Jesus came to introduce a kingdom that often conflicts with our worldly systems. This Kingdom is characterized by values such as leveraging wealth and power for the less fortunate and loving others selflessly. Jesus' mission was to establish a new order where love and service to others are paramount. This Kingdom challenges us to look beyond our political affiliations and focus on the higher calling of serving and loving others as Jesus did. [03:39]
Luke 4:18-19 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Reflection: How can you leverage your resources and influence to serve the less fortunate in your community today?
Day 2: The Law of Christ as Our Guiding Ethic
The Apostle Paul emphasized the "law of Christ," which is to love one another as Jesus loved us. This love should inform our conscience and guide our actions, transcending political affiliations and uniting all believers. Paul demonstrated this by becoming "a slave to everyone" to win as many as possible to Christ. He adapted to different cultural contexts while remaining under the law of Christ, which is to love others selflessly. This guiding ethic of love should be the foundation of our interactions and decisions. [06:18]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is struggling. How can you show them the love of Christ in a practical way today?
Day 3: Historical Impact of the Law of Christ
The law of Christ has historically influenced significant social changes, such as the abolition of slavery and the condemnation of infanticide. Early Christians, motivated by love, rescued abandoned babies and opposed societal norms that devalued human life. This ethic of love and respect for human dignity has shaped Western culture and continues to be relevant today. The transformative power of Christ's teachings can still bring about positive change in our society if we live out this love in our daily lives. [15:03]
James 1:27 (ESV): "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Reflection: What societal norms or injustices do you feel called to challenge or address through the love of Christ?
Day 4: Incorporating Knowledge and Wisdom
As followers of Jesus, we should incorporate knowledge and wisdom into our informed conscience. This means being open to new information and perspectives, even if they challenge our current beliefs. Our faith should not fear science or discovery but embrace them to better understand God's creation. By doing so, we can grow in our understanding and application of God's truth in our lives. This openness to learning and growth is essential for a mature and robust faith. [22:59]
Proverbs 2:6 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
Reflection: What is one new piece of information or perspective you have encountered recently? How can you incorporate this into your understanding of God's truth?
Day 5: Unity in Diversity
Our political views should not divide us as Christians. We must prioritize our faith and the law of Christ over political affiliations. By listening to and learning from those who experience the world differently, we can foster understanding and unity. This demonstrates that it is possible to disagree politically while loving unconditionally. Our unity in Christ should be a testimony to the world of the power of His love to bring people together despite their differences. [28:58]
Ephesians 4:3 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of someone with different political views than you. How can you show them love and understanding today, prioritizing your shared faith over your differences?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus did not come to take sides. He came to take over. Jesus came. Jesus came to introduce the kingdom of God to earth. The kingdom of God values, the upside-down kingdom, where those with the wealth and the power of God are able to take over." [03:39] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The kingdom of God, where the king laid down his life for his subjects rather than demanding his subjects lay down their lives for him. The kingdom of God that was so broad and inclusive that he said, and everybody is invited to participate in it." [04:58] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are to love one another, with a caveat, as I have loved you. This isn't just a love fest. You are to love one another. This isn't one way. This is two way. You're to love one another as I have loved you. And then he said this, by this, unique brand of love, by this unique brand of new covenant love, everyone will know you're my disciple if you love one another." [06:18] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When the concerns of others concern you and you act on it, you are fulfilling the law of Christ. You are doing what Jesus told the disciples to do. And again, the New Testament marching orders for those of us who were Jesus followers." [10:03] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The law of Christ should inform our collective conscience. Let me give you a couple of quick examples because as simple as that is, this is a powerful, powerful, powerful dynamic. In fact, this dynamic shaped Western culture." [18:45] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The kingdom of God will always, in some detail and at some level, conflict with the kingdoms of men. And the kingdom of God will always, at some level and some detail, conflict with your political party and the platform of your political party and our political candidates. There's always going to be a tension." [04:58] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "As Jesus followers, all of, of all persuasions, regardless of your political persuasion, if you're a Jesus followers, the law of Christ, that is your marching orders. and the law of Christ should inform over time as we grow as Christians, our conscience, that our conscience should become hardwired into the law of Christ." [10:03] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we see people undermining their own future, undermining their health, undermining their relationship with their kids, undermining the integrity of their family or the integrity of society, we should be moved by that. We should be moved to action. It should bother us." [10:56] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When the law of Christ informs an individual or a village or a city or a nation's conscience, things change. And there has been so much change, even in our nation, because of this very same dynamic. Because it's so brilliant. Jesus' single new covenant command was so powerful." [18:45] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We should never resist science. We should never resist discovery. We should be the most curious people, because our faith is tethered not to an interpretation of a text. Our faith is tethered to an event in history, the resurrection of Jesus. So we don't need to fear new, and we don't need to fear science." [22:25] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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