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June 13, 2023
For three days in an Airbnb rental in a cozy Atlanta neighborhood, my team and I embarked on a spiritual retreat that led us to reflect on polarization. Nine of us worshiped, laughed, worked, played, ate meals, and envisioned the coming year together.
During our time together, we aimed to build team spirit, share organizational knowledge, and strengthen our commitment to a shared vision of the future. However, it wasn’t all high-mindedness. We gathered during a time of increasing disaffiliation from organized religion. Over the years, we have witnessed a growing divide within the church, exacerbated by various issues such as doctrinal disagreements, cultural shifts, and a generational gap. Our retreat became a space for deep reflection and, at times, complaint.
As we reflected upon, and discussed the issues at hand, we recognized that complaining would simply keep us stuck in the problems rather than move us to take action to address them. As leaders, we must not look away from the hard conversations, but be equipped to handle them with grace and humility.
Consider Pastor Katie Saari, a Creating a Culture of Renewal® participant who excels at handling difficult conversations. Recently, her church has been grappling with issues related to human sexuality, and Pastor Katie has taken the lead in shaping the conversation. Previously, leadership at her church was quiet and driven by the laity. Pastor Katie’s willingness to confront narrow-minded views and endless debates has shifted the discourse toward authentic and meaningful dialogue.
She took what had been a polarizing conversation and used it as an opportunity to build relationships, foster unity, and promote understanding. In leading her church through difficult conversations, Pastor Katie has become a role model for handling divided opinions lovingly. Although polarization can hurt faith communities, it doesn’t have to.
This pattern of complaint and lack of action also existed during Jesus’ time. He lived in an era of religious and political polarization. Sadducees and Pharisees held opposing views on faith, culture, biblical interpretation, and relations with Rome. The Zealots and Essenes had their unique perspectives. Each group related differently to the Temple and envisioned different futures for the Jewish people. Those who didn’t align with any specific Jewish party often went unnoticed. Overall, people were upset, torn, and afraid.
In the midst of this polarization, Jesus stood apart from the prevailing narratives. Jesus uplifted a vision for the future that transcended the divisions of the day. This enabled him to gather a diverse following, including tax collectors, Pharisees, independent thinkers, Zealots, Temple authorities, Romans, and non-Jews.
So how did Jesus achieve this? His vision of the Kingdom of God prioritized ethics over politics.
With Jesus as their guide, the apostles couldn’t simply sit around and complain. They had to move into purposeful action. Inspired by this example, our retreat team shifted from complaint to taking accountable steps, moving away from polarization toward embracing Kingdom ethics. Drawing inspiration from Micah 6:8 (NIV) — “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” — we made concrete written commitments to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Just as partisan politics can be a spectator sport where personal involvement is limited, disaffiliation from the church can create a sense of detachment and disengagement. However, Kingdom ethics requires opening our hearts, minds, and souls to connect with those who have different perspectives and experiences.
This is what Pastor Katie has done in the local church. She led away from division and towards unity. We no longer need to remain in an either/or mindset in most tense situations within the church. Instead, we must learn to embrace both/and solutions. We can provide a space for differing opinions while striving for greater understanding and respect for those different from us. We can use our differences as a steppingstone toward seeking the common good.
When polarization wins, we all lose. But there is an alternative.
There is a way to build thriving church communities that embody God’s love and grace. Join me for a free webinar where I’ll share practical strategies for success and creating a culture of renewal in your ministry.
If you’re ready to work towards transformation together, reach out for a personal consultation to learn how you can be a part of this journey.
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