The church (aka body of Christ) has been polarized. [The church is not the building. We are the church.] We’ve allowed race, culture, and politics to divide us and dictate what we do and say, including whose side we are on. This ought not be. We, the church, should stand on love and the word of God, enforcing and rejecting whatever the Holy Bible says and rejects respectively.
The urgency of unity within the Body of Christ cannot be overstated now than ever before. For too long, the Church has been divided by labels such as the “Black Church” and the “White Church,” by political and cultural preferences. But is Christ divided? God forbid. The Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, calls for oneness among His followers.

This was the theme (as One) at a weekend conference I attended.

There is One Body, One Spirit, One Lord

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 
Ephesians 4:4-6

The above verses make it clear that we, as believers, are called to be one — one body, united by one Spirit, under one God. There should therefore be no room for division based on race, ethnicity, or political lines in the Body of Christ.

The divisions we see—whether social, racial, or political—are man-made and not of God. The Church, intended to be the beacon of hope and light in a divided world, has sometimes mirrored the very fragmentation that we are meant to heal. We must ask ourselves: are we allowing the world’s systems to infiltrate the house of God? Are we placing our cultural identities or political ideologies above our identity in Christ?

Christ’s Kingdom is Not of This World

“My kingdom is not of this world.”  - John 18:36

While we live in a world that is heavily influenced by politics, our primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of God. We must guard against allowing political affiliations or race to sow division within the Church. Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, or black, white, or brown, these earthly labels should never supersede our identity as Christians. Our politics and color of our skins should reflect our faith, not the other way around.

We, the Church, must not allow anything to stir up strong emotions, debates, and differing opinions within the Church. We must remember that our mission transcends any platform. We are called to represent Christ and His message of love, grace, and reconciliation to the world. Let us not allow racial, cultural, political, or any divisions whatsoever to fracture the unity Christ prayed for in John 17:21, when He said,

“that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”

Unity in Diversity

The beauty of the Church lies in its diversity. Revelation 7:9 gives us a glimpse of what heaven will look like: “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Heaven will not be divided into sections based on race, nationality, or political views. Instead, all of God’s children will stand together, united in worship.

Our differences—whether cultural, racial, political, or even economical —should enrich the Church, not divide it. God created diversity, but in His plan, diversity is meant to work in harmony. 1 Corinthians 12:12 reminds us that:

“just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” 

We are meant to function as one, each bringing something unique to the table, but all working together for the glory of God.

It’s Time for Reconciliation and Healing

Now is the time for reconciliation within the Church. It is time to tear down the walls that have divided us. The Church must lead the way in showing the world what true unity looks like. It’s time for the world to look up to the church being a church without spots or wrinkles. We must repent of any attitudes that have contributed to division in the Body and commit ourselves to the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us stand united, not by political party or race, but by the love of Christ and the authority of God’s Word. Let us reject the false notion that the Church must mirror the world’s divisions and instead model the oneness that Christ died to establish. Let us remember that our unity is our strength, and it is by our love for one another that the world will know we are His disciples (John 13:35).

Let the Church Lead in Love

As the world becomes increasingly polarized, the Church must be the example of unity. We are called to be salt and light, to reflect the love of Christ in all we do. Now, more than ever, the world needs to see a Church that is united—across racial, social, and political lines. It needs to see a Church that values people over politics, a Church that chooses love over division.

Let us be that Church.

In Christ 🙏✌️🙏🏼✌🏼🙏🏾✌🏾🙏🏿✌🏿