{"id":102401,"date":"2020-10-08T10:37:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T16:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/?p=102401"},"modified":"2020-10-08T10:37:09","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T16:37:09","slug":"a-house-divided-navigating-political-polarization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/articles\/topics\/life-issues\/challenges\/cultural-issues\/a-house-divided-navigating-political-polarization\/","title":{"rendered":"A House Divided: Navigating Political Polarization"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Does political polarization, that ever-increasing gap between political convictions, fill your family conversations with relational razor blades? Maybe attack (or duck-and-cover) mode\u2019s become the norm. Your own home has become a house divided.<\/p>\n

A friend described her experience of an inflamed phone conversation with a Christian relative. Both resorted to derogatory language about the opposing party or its voters. My friend left alienated, hurt, and disappointed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end, our conversation was no longer neutral ground to really understand each other,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can\u2019t seem to admit what our parties do wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a disturbing trend. An astounding 22% of evangelicals<\/a> believe civility is unproductive in political conversations. Twenty-five percent consider their candidate\u2019s insulting personal remarks toward an opponent to be justifiable.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s even more concerning and uncomfortable when a parent, sibling, or spouse doubles as a perceived adversary: How could someone I love be blind to how trampled I feel? <\/em><\/p>\n

How have our Christian homes\u2014commanded to return blessings for insults (1 Peter 3:9<\/a>), live at peace with all as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18<\/a>), do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14<\/a>)\u2014gotten here?<\/p>\n

Resist culture not only through politics, but unity<\/h2>\n

Search engine and social media algorithms create echo chambers of those who agree with us.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you believe a certain thing and post about it often, it is unlikely that you would end up coming across someone with an opposing viewpoint because the algorithm simply wouldn\u2019t allow it\u201d in order to promote the user\u2019s \u201ccomfort zone,\u201d reports Digital Information World<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our echo chambers compound with media networks whose numbers elevate with non-neutral positions and strong personalities.<\/p>\n

So we\u2019re less adept to learning from different perspectives. We\u2019ve lost resilience for views and people that make us more thoughtful, compassionate, well-rounded, receptive to outside experiences. (Check out key ideas for “Raising Kids in Outrage Culture.”<\/a>)<\/p>\n

But some of our family members are primarily part of Christ\u2019s Body\u2014not just the opposition. And \u201cThe eye cannot say to the hand, \u2018I have no need of you,\u2019 nor again the head to the feet, \u2018I have no need of you\u2019\u201d (1 Corinthians 12:21<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In Acts, Paul frequently dives into thoughtful conversation with those who disagree. Though admittedly, his only \u201ccandidate\u201d is Christ.<\/p>\n

Political polarization: Whose sign is in your front yard?<\/h2>\n

Actress Candice Cameron Bure recently explained<\/a> why she wouldn\u2019t be returning to the Emmy-winning talk show, The View. <\/em><\/p>\n

I just don’t publicly want to talk about politics. Not because I don’t believe that my viewpoints and opinions are important, but I would much rather share Jesus with people. That’s really my passion.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Similarly, one pastor refuses political signs in his front yard, explaining that because Jesus is who people truly need, he doesn\u2019t want anything in the way of them coming to Him.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, Jen Pollock Michel writes in Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of And in an Either-Or World<\/em>, the center of Jesus\u2019 Kingdom is not the Oval Office: \u201cIn fact, as Scripture makes clear, God\u2019s kingdom is frequently in conflict with the pharaohs and caesars of its day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s on the most important sign in your life\u2019s \u201cfront yard\u201d? How would your family define your top priority? (And does your identity as father, sister, aunt, or son top political association?)<\/p>\n

Consider Jesus\u2018 rebuke of Peter when Peter slices off the ear of a member of the mob arresting Jesus. Jesus heals the ear\u2014probably much to Peter\u2019s confusion, who saw Jesus as his political king. Perhaps Jesus\u2019 words to Pilate help us understand: \u201cMy kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting\u201d (John 18:36).<\/p>\n

So how can you elevate the King of Kings in your own house divided amidst political slicing and dicing?<\/p>\n

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5 Ways to Make Jesus King of Your Divided House<\/h2>\n

1. Change your goal in conflict.<\/h3>\n

Conflict is an opportunity\u2014but not to win. Or always agree. Most inflamed conversations don\u2019t birth changed minds. Heels dig in deeper as you defend positions.<\/p>\n

In our nation\u2019s own political polarization, nearly everyone<\/em> feels a bit threatened in political conversation. Which finds many of us in a state of ambush\u2014devolving into \u201cfight, flight, or freeze,\u201d not \u201clisten, understand, alter my perspective.\u201d We might come out swinging.<\/p>\n

Rather than those who speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15<\/a>), we opt to just not back down<\/em>\u2014maybe calling it \u201cboldness\u201d in God\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

Yet God orchestrated the makeup of our families. That conflict flays open desires that push and pull us (James 4:1<\/a>).<\/p>\n

And in exposing those wants, conflict is an opportunity to understand and love and honor, become more like Jesus, and grow stronger.<\/p>\n

2. Pray for your relative, wisdom to act for true peace, and your own heart.<\/h3>\n

Long before speaking, pray for your relative and for wisdom to truly love them well.<\/p>\n

Jesus commands to first<\/em> \u201ctake the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye\u201d (Matthew 7:5<\/a>). Ask Him to reveal your motivations for talking with your family\u2014and ways your own heart isn\u2019t like His.<\/p>\n

When secure in He who \u201cremoves kings and sets up kings\u201d (Daniel 2:21<\/a>), we\u2019re much less likely to pop off or inflict damage out of wounded pride.<\/p>\n

Our self-control in a house divided stems from<\/p>\n