How To Love People You Disagree WithSample

Let’s Choose the Big Picture  

It’s no secret that our world seems more divided than ever. Whether it’s political parties that can’t agree on a nation’s budget or religious groups that spew hatred toward each other, there always seems to be a tension in the relational, spiritual, and political climate of our world.

In this Plan, we’ve discussed several different things to incorporate into our relationships with people we don’t agree with. Loving people because Jesus called us to, showing respect by managing our demeanor, avoiding fruitless arguments, and empathizing with others to see life from their lens are all wise and helpful approaches. It seems too difficult a task to put differences aside, but it isn’t. Case in point.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the world had a common enemy. Despite belief differences in just about every area of our lives, we all had one thing in common—we were all trying to avoid this serious virus that took the lives of thousands. We talked to people we didn’t normally talk to. We helped those who stood on the other side of the political aisle than we do. We watched out for each other even if we didn’t agree with someone’s personal choices. That’s unity. We may not have had anything else in common during that season in the history of our world, but we had that.

Unfortunately, it won’t always be this way for everyone, but we could choose to make it our new normal. We could pre-decide that we’re going to choose people over policies and relationships over rules.  What if…

...we exhibited patience?
...we chose not to be offended?
...we quit taking everything so personally?
..we changed the degrading way we talk to others?
...we focused on what we did have in common?
...we chose the big picture?

Let’s not forget that God so loved...the world. Every single soul on this planet, past, present, and future, He loves. While we’ll never have His capacity to love people, we are still called to love others. 

Followers of Jesus can’t quote enough Bible verses to force someone to believe in Jesus. What we can do is represent Jesus by showing love, respect, and empathy, all covered with equal parts truth and grace. 

At the end of the day, the point of loving people we disagree with is unity. Whether the issue is petty or prominent, we can choose people first. Because if we, as followers of Jesus, want people to know our Savior and Lord the way we do, that’s where we have to start. Let’s represent Jesus well so that others want to know Him. And when they do, the Holy Spirit is quite capable of leading them to adjust any viewpoints that are inconsistent with His truth.