As the election season draws to a close, the air is thick with tension, division, and fear of what may come. On social media, memes about a "Civil War" have circulated, some people laughing about the prospect, others expressing genuine concern. Many of these voices, from both sides of the political spectrum, claim the banner of Christianity—touting faith, love, and the teachings of Jesus—while posting things that seem to contradict those very principles. As a follower of Christ, I can't help but reflect on the contrast between the words of our Savior and the anger and division we see online today.
A Divided Kingdom Cannot Stand
It's hard to ignore the language of division and violence that permeates social media and our national conversation. Some Christians seem to be posting about "getting ready for the civil war," or asking "when does it start?" and there’s something deeply troubling about this. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be agents of peace, not chaos. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, famously said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God"(Matthew 5:9). I don't think He was encouraging us to rally behind violence or division, but to foster reconciliation.
In fact, when His disciples were ready to fight and defend Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus rebuked them and said, "Put your sword back in its place...for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). How often do we forget that we are called to a different kind of kingdom? A kingdom not of this world, but one of love, peace, and reconciliation.
If we are truly Christians, we need to take a long, hard look at what we are posting, what we are sharing, and what we are saying in the midst of a divided nation. We must ask ourselves: Are we contributing to the chaos, or are we working towards healing and unity?
A Call for Reflection: What Are We Truly Saying?
Earlier today, someone asked me how I voted. When I told them I had voted, but not for either candidate, I was quickly labeled as a “baby killer” and was accused of supporting policies that harm our country. What was supposed to be a simple conversation turned into a barrage of judgment, name-calling, and anger. It was eye-opening, though, to witness how quickly the veneer of "holiness" can be stripped away when differences of opinion emerge. It left me wondering, how many of us—myself included—are guilty of showing more anger than grace in the face of disagreement?
Jesus warned us about the dangers of judgment. In Matthew 7:1-2, He said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."How often do we forget this? How often do we ignore the command to love our neighbors, not just the ones who agree with us, but all of them?
The irony here is that many who cry “tolerance” from one side of the political aisle seem to forget that tolerance includes allowing for differences of opinion, even those with which we strongly disagree. True tolerance doesn’t mean silencing the voices we don’t like; it means respecting their right to speak and finding a way to coexist peacefully, even when we differ. As Christians, we are called to lead the way in this, showing the world that there is room at the table for all.
Let Us Work Toward Unity, Not Division
So here’s my plea: If you wake up on Wednesday morning and the election doesn't go the way you hoped, take a deep breath. Accept the results. As Christians, we are not called to act out of anger or bitterness when things don’t go our way. James 1:19-20 reminds us, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Instead of posting angry memes or making threats of violence, let us turn that energy toward something constructive. **Start working in your community.** Reach out to someone you disagree with and begin a dialogue. Volunteer. Serve. Be a part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem. The change we seek can only come through the hands and feet of those who choose to work for peace, healing, and unity in practical ways.
But the same is true if your candidate wins. Don’t gloat. Don’t look at those who disagree with you and rub their noses in your victory. **Romans 12:15** says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." If we can’t rejoice with others in their joy and mourn with them in their sorrow, we fail to live out the love Christ calls us to. Our victory should not be about boasting in our candidate, but in the opportunity we have to do good in the world around us.
Real Change Happens in Our Communities
Whether we win or lose, the world is watching how we respond. Will we be the Christians who spread love, grace, and understanding? Or will we be the ones who add to the chaos, division, and hatred? Our country is divided, but the body of Christ need not be. We are called to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). This doesn't mean pretending we don't disagree, but it does mean working towards peace, respecting our differences, and choosing unity over division.
So, if you wake up on Wednesday and things aren’t as you hoped, instead of letting anger or frustration rule your heart, choose to love. If things turn out the way you wanted, don’t let pride take root. Instead, choose humility and continue to work toward the common good.
Real change won’t happen in Washington or through memes on social media. Real change happens when we roll up our sleeves and get to work in our communities, in our neighborhoods, and in our hearts. It happens when we choose to love, even when it's hard. It happens when we live like Jesus, who was not a man of division, but a man of reconciliation.
Let us be the peacemakers, the change-makers, and the bridge-builders. Let’s show the world that Christians are united in Christ, not divided by politics. And in doing so, we will fulfill the command to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).
May God grant us peace, wisdom, and courage in the days ahead.
