Ask Chuck: How can Christians help in a 'Divided States of America'

Dear Chuck,

Our politicians have escalated strife and division in America. I am concerned we are now the “Divided States of America.” How can Christians make a difference?

Holding My Tongue

Dear Holding My Tongue,

While your question may not appear to be financially related, the strife and division created in the public arena have both personal and national economic consequences. We need to offer a better way — to rebuild trust and unity among our family, friends, and neighbors.

In 2008, Os Guinness wrote the following in The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It: “Name-calling, insult, ridicule, guilt by association, caricature, innuendo, accusation, denunciation, negative ads, and deceptive and manipulative videos have replaced deliberation and debate. Neither side talks to the other side, only about them; and there is no pretense of democratic engagement, let alone a serious effort at persuasion.”

On July 23, Dr. Jim Denison wrote, “If the political turmoil of these days is stressing you, you’re not alone. In an American Psychiatric Association poll, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they’re feeling anxious about the election. Another poll found that nearly 40% are depressed or anxious about the election season, and a similar share said they are ‘checked out’ by the amount of news and social media attention on politics and the upcoming election. We have good reason to feel the way we do: fueled by rhetoric that demonizes political opponents, our politics are more visceral than ever and thus more violent.”

The loss of civility in our land can be reversed. But those who identify as Christians must begin to speak with words and in ways that reveal a genuine faithfulness to Christ. I attended a gathering at the Heritage Foundation, where Os Guinness was the keynote speaker. He noted that we need true statesmen to rise up and help us find our common ground. We should celebrate what unites us instead of what divides us.

Stewarding our words

Words are powerful! Solomon wrote that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21 ESV). James, the brother of Jesus, said the tongue “is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8–10 ESV).

Christ reconciled us to Himself, made us His ambassadors, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In all of our verbal interactions, we should be conscious of the fact that we represent the Lord wherever we go and to whomever we speak. The way we communicate at home, on social media, or in the marketplace is being observed and often modeled.

It is mandatory, therefore, that we think before we speak. “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things” (Proverbs 15:28 ESV).

Regardless of whether we are confronted with an angry customer, in a conflict with our spouse, or trying to reason with a belligerent teenager, let us not return curse for curse, condemnation for condemnation. Rather, let us speak in a way that we want others to speak to us. We have been raised with Christ and called to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk (Colossians 3).

Ponder these admonitions from Proverbs 15

• Verse 1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
• Verse 2 – “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.”
• Verse 4 – “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
• Verse 7 – “The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.”
• Verse 14 – “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.”
• Verse 18 –  “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
• Verse 23 – “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!”
• Verse 26 – “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.”
• Verse 33 – “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19–20 ESV).

How to make a difference

Let's look inward first. Our speech and language must be more than civil. It must flow from a heart transformed by the love of God. We must intentionally saturate our hearts and minds with His Word. In true humility, let us count others more significant than ourselves. When insults were hurled at Jesus, He did not retaliate. He entrusted Himself to the Father, knowing He would judge justly. Let us love our enemies by wisely stewarding our words to glorify God in every situation we encounter.

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all this put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:12–15 ESV).

If we put these principles into practice, our tongues will be used to build up, not tear down. I pray for our nation and for every believer who can be used by God to restore civility.

For encouragement during this divisive time in our nation, I’d like to invite you to join a free Crown Bible study on the YouVersion app. We have several devotionals regarding money and stewardship that will help bring God’s Word into your daily life.