Listening to one of my favorite songs today, “One” by Bono/U2 and Mary J Blige, reminded me that we, as a society, are much better people than the media would have us believe. Yes, we are probably more divided politically than we have ever been, or at least in recent history. I believe that we are more alike than different.
When there is a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or major flooding, we get to see the true character of most Americans who are ready to help their neighbors in need. And we don’t just help people who agree with our beliefs. There is no red state or blue state when people are hurting.
Granted, we generally are only shown these positive news stories when there is a huge disaster. The very real and never ending daily needs of Americans who are suffering from homelessness, hunger, mental illness and so much more are often overlooked as they don’t ger the big news coverage of major disasters.
I love these lyrics:
(Watch the youtube video of “One” link below)
One love, one blood. One life, you got to do what you should.
One life with each other my sisters and my brothers.
One life, but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other, carry each other.
Christians, if they are truly trying to follow the ways of Jesus, know that God wants us to care for each other. And while it is perfectly fine for us to have different opinions, he wants us to be kind and live in peace, especially with other believers who we may disagree with.
Romans 12:18 says “If is is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
He also taught us that the most important commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
And the second commandment that is equally important is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
When the world sees that there is no unity among Christians, no love, why would they ever want to know more about the Jesus that we supposedly follow?