Spiritual Unity And Political Unity

As the partisan divide in America continues to widen, and as the 2020 Presidential Election looms just over a year away, pastors see an uptick in headlines pertaining to the relationship of church and politics.  Expectedly strong feelings crowd the forum from voices on both extremes.  For one side, church life should proceed as if the world of politics doesn't even exist.  And for the other, the only hope for politics is for the church to lead the way.  

An angle that few if any seem to take is to examine the issue from the perspective of overall church unity.  It just so happens that I am guiding my church through 1 Corinthians in this modern situational context; so church unity is obviously on the brain.  Two questions emerge: (1) Can you have spiritual unity without political unity? and (2) What does preserving spiritual unity look like in such a politically divisive age?

Can you have spiritual unity without political unity?

Doesn't it depend?  You may have a congregation that is apathetic about politics as a whole.  I have never led such a church, but I'm sure they are out there.  In my first pastorate, I had a state senator - even presided over his memorial with the NC General Assembly in attendance.  He had mostly friends and a few political foes in the church.  Here's what I have found.  The closer the issues in an election come to biblical principles, the more vocal church people become about their political stances at church.  This connection dictates the likelihood of being able to achieve spiritual unity without political unity.  
If that feels obvious, consider the following issue as just one example.  I had a seminary professor who personally contacted every candidate on a ballot in any race with this question: "I am an one issue voter.  What is your stance on abortion?"  He would not cast a vote for a candidate who was not solidly pro life.  If your church observes Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and teaches that abortion is murder, any pro choice members you have will undermine your spiritual unity.  There are churches that will demonstrate peacefully in front of abortion clinics.  Churches commonly will support ministries that offer abortion alternatives such as adoption and Crisis Pregnancy Centers.  In recent days, I have heard of people leaving churches over this issue.  Where there is disagreement on this issue, your church will likely stop short of achieving New Testament unity.
Experience causes me to lean toward saying no - you cannot have spiritual unity in your church without political unity.  It's more than just issues and personality.  As I type this, the Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives is pursuing an impeachment inquiry against the Republican President.  You must have noticed that our societal context has deteriorated to a point where people with different politics can barely be in the same room as one another.  Imagine trying to do servant evangelism when politics comes up in small talk.  Since we cannot ignore political divisions for spiritual reasons, what about that next question?

What does preserving spiritual unity look like?

Here are a few suggestions:

• Prioritize spiritual unity over political unity.  Some people will not leave well enough alone.  To them, it is not beautiful for brethren to dwell together in unity.  Brethren must dwell together in unity as Republicans or Democrats.  Beware these people.
• Refuse to compromise your principles.  In keeping with the above - be unified on the Word first, and then politics if you can.  Let me be clear.  I support the pro life position on abortion and agree that the Bible teaches human life begins at conception.  I also believe in speaking the truth in love and that God offers forgiveness and grace to those who have been deceived.  I would not become pro choice just to satisfy members of my congregation who disagreed with me in the name of unity.  They will have to come to my side or keep quiet, because I am not budging.  Don't compromise your principles.  There are certain things we can compromise on; this is not one of them.
• Keep the main thing the main thing.  Stubbornly promote and keep your people's focus on the Great Commission.  Whenever politics gets in the way of the Great Commission (and it will), tackle it head on.  In other words, we do have a right to urge others to adopt our views about Jesus Christ, sin, the cross, God, heaven, and hell; that's the Great Commission.  Prayerfully, people will understand that you only engage political opposition to protect and promote the Great Commission and not just to be political.
• Encourage people to be a part of the political process.  We need Christian people in office.  We need activists with a theistic worldview.  The Church deserves a place at the table when issues that affect large swaths of the population are being hammered out.  I have encouraged voter registration to take place in the lobby of my church.  I urge my people to make their Christ-following voices heard in the public square.

We are a long ways off from the days when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (thankfully).  But the volatility of the current political climate in America makes it a bit naïve to maintain that churches can ignore political differences.  The church that would endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3) must engage in political discourse at least enough to ensure that political disunity doesn't disrupt spiritual unity.