Divided We Stand: How to Love When We DisagreeSample

In our world, we have a lot of ways that we might define ourselves. Sometimes we define ourselves by our jobs, economic position, or relationships. We define ourselves by our gender and sexual identity, by our family history, race, ethnicity, nationality, and education. We often define ourselves by our political leanings or religious views, even within the same faith. This list could go on and on.

These descriptors matter. They are all parts of you that help others connect with and understand you. They even help you understand yourself! These pieces make up the incredible and necessary diversity in the body of Christ.

However, when you dig down past these descriptors, what is your ultimate, deepest, truest identity? If you are in Christ, then you have your answer: Christ.

When we trust God for our salvation, scripture tells us we are made into new creations. We are transformed into people who are called holy, righteous, beloved children of God. After this incredible moment of humility, we are no longer identified by our sin but by God’s love. We are no longer sinners striving to become saints—we are saints who still sin. What preposterous, incredible, unbelievable, life-altering truth!

As we grow in trusting this identity, it allows us to open ourselves to both God and others in entirely new ways. We no longer have to fear finding out we were wrong about something. Why? Because we know that we are secure and beloved. We can now be genuinely curious about our biases and blind spots, trusting that they will show us areas where we can lean more into Christ. We can acknowledge these growth areas with less shame and more openness, excited for others to help us live out of our sainthood more fully as we trust who Christ has made us.

Reflection:

Which of your “secondary” identities or descriptors are most important to you?

How differently might a hard conversation go if you approached it as a secure, beloved, humble saint, instead of approaching it out of your secondary identities? This Is Who I Am