Crossing the divide

Crossing the Divide: A Gospel Response to a Polarized World

Recently I heard a presentation by political commentator and Christian thinker David French. His focus was offering insight as to why we feel so divided and polarized in this country right now and what we, personally, can do about it. He began by pointing to a phenomenon called negative polarization, where we’re not drawn to our own group out of deep love, but out of fear and anger toward the “other side.” This is intensified by “The Big Sort,” where increasingly we choose to live in communities marked by sameness – same politics, same faith, same culture.

Interestingly, the Law of Group Polarization shows the more we talk only to those who think like us, the more extreme our views become. Add in the “commodification of outrage” – social media algorithms that use negative emotions to generate increased engagement (and thus increase advertising revenue) – amplified by “nut-picking fallacy” – focusing only on the worst examples of the “other side” to prove a point – and the divide grows even deeper.

In a time when division feels like the air we breathe, it’s easy to believe the myth being pressed by both sides that “they” are too far gone – too different, too wrong, too dangerous – for there to be any purpose in listening. But the Gospel calls us to something radical: love your enemies (Matthew 5:44), welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35), and be ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

What’s the way forward? According to French it is very basic: befriend someone different than yourself. Sit with someone whose story challenges your assumptions. Make room in your life not just for agreement, but for grace.

Basic doesn’t mean easy. But the gospels illustrate Jesus doing each of these. For example, Jesus has extended conversations with a Syrophoenician woman as well as a captain of the Roman Guard, both of whom were seeking healing for people they cared about, and despite the counsel of his friends, he offers that healing. Jesus has a long discussion about “right worship” with a woman he met at a well in Samaria, and a challenging dinner at the home of Zacchaeus, a tax collector. All of these people represented “them” and could even be considered enemies of the people of Israel: foreigners, a leader of the occupying army, or someone working for that occupying government.

As followers of Jesus, this kind of work is not optional. We are people of the Cross – a symbol of reconciliation, not division. We are not called to win arguments – we are called to embody Christ who loved and forgave even those who were crucifying him. You don’t have to agree with someone to love them. Jesus didn’t say, “Agree with your neighbor,” but “Love your neighbor.”

In a culture that often rewards outrage more than empathy, every act of grace becomes a quiet act of resistance – a witness to the radical love of God.

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg offers a helpful concept for this kind of Gospel living through what he calls the “Third Space.” In his book The Great Good Place, Oldenburg describes the Third Space as the informal gathering places that exist between home (“first space”) and work (“second space”), such as cafés, front porches, parks, pubs, or fellowship halls – places where community happens naturally, across lines of class, race, and ideology. These are spaces of conversation, listening, and shared humanity.

In the life of this church, the All Saints’ Gatherings (one-time events) and the Fun, Food and Fellowship groups (groups of eight people who meet for dinner once a month for four-six months) can serve as our own “third spaces.” These are sacred intersections where people who might never otherwise meet can share stories, meals, and laughter. These gatherings model the reconciling heart of the Gospel – spaces where grace, curiosity, and presence create bridges that arguments never could.

In the wider community, All Saints’ is known not by the lines we draw, but the bridges we build. This is a powerful, tangible witness to the gospel. I invite you to continue and expand this legacy. Intentionally choose to read or watch media from a different perspective. Reach out to someone who might be outside your usual circle, whether politically, culturally, or spiritually. Share a cup of coffee with someone who votes differently, worships differently, or sees the world through a different lens. Ask about their story. Pray for them. Listen without correcting. Ask questions without debating. Offer kindness without conditions.

It may not change the world overnight, but it could change a heart – maybe even yours.

Blessings,
Nancy+