Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

The number of divisive issues we have faced as a society over the last two years is staggering: Masks, politics, worship styles, race relations, vaccines, and police behavior, just to name a few. And with each item in this list, I’m sure most of us could express an opinion, and with that opinion find a neighbor or friend who vehemently disagrees. When we are confronted with someone close to us who disagrees, we must choose how we will respond.

Sadly, the most popular response these days is to block, ignore, and ghost. Some people think, “We can’t agree on this one point so I must cut that person out of my life.” This is fine if a stranger is hassling you on social media, block away. However, this should not be your go to response for people with whom you have spent years living life. Especially, when both of you are followers of Christ.

Jesus in John 13:35 said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We are called to love one another in the church. Even when we are on opposing sides of an issue. Agreement is never a prerequisite for love—nor is it a determining factor for who deserves it.

Yes, we are called to stand up for what is right and true, but we never need to do it in a way that demeans another person. When you have a disagreement with someone, talk it out. We are called to strive for reconciliation. If you have sinned against someone, seek forgiveness. If someone has sinned against you, be eager to forgive. This is not an easy calling, and that’s why Christ told us that we didn’t need to do it in our own strength. We can rely on him.

What opinion is causing division in your life? Is your stance on that issue more important than your friends or family? Who can you forgive today?