Image: AI.
As someone connected to many American Christians across the spectrum, I’ve observed a telling narrative around US elections—a narrative that speaks volumes about the state of Christianity in America today.
Polarization
Polarization is the division of society into opposing, extreme groups with little to no middle ground or shared understanding. Polarization is dangerous because it erodes trust, makes cooperation nearly impossible, and often escalates conflicts, leading to social instability. When people see the other side as an enemy, it deepens division, weakens communities, and often destabilizes entire societies, making them more vulnerable to internal collapse or external manipulation.
I have many friends in the United States, and likely, over a thousand of them are on my social media. Every election cycle, I see many posts, comments, and debates about candidates and policies from my American Christian friends. This time, it’s extreme. Observing these exchanges has shown me that, for the most part, the division is stark and often painfully personal.
Three Groups of American Christians
When I think about the posts and conversations, I can generally categorize them into three groups:
- Group A: The Silent Christians. These are only a few Christians who keep their views to themselves. Perhaps they are disillusioned or feel it’s wiser to avoid the fray. Maybe they’re waiting, watching, or too embarrassed by what’s unfolding to speak up.
- Group B: Republican Christians. They are vocal in their alignment with the Republican platform, convinced that their candidate stands for what is right, morally and politically.
- Group C: Democrat Christians. Equally passionate, they see the Democratic platform as aligned with the values they believe are essential to Christian compassion, justice, and morality.
I have no horse in the race, but what I see, judging by hundreds of conversations and posts, is not just passionate political engagement; it’s polarization on a remarkable and dangerous scale. For many, this isn’t just a preference or a political alignment—it’s a belief that the opposing candidate embodies all that is wrong, perhaps even all that is evil.
It’s dazzling for me to see how very sincere Christians I deeply appreciate speak against the other side as if it were nothing less than Mordor itself. Meanwhile, equally sincere Christians I admire from the opposite side of the political spectrum use almost identical rhetoric. What’s even more astonishing is that both sides seem convinced it’s their Christian faith compelling them to take these stances in the elections, often doubting the sincerity of the (Christian) faith of those on the opposite side.
No Middle Ground, No Reconciliation
In the US, it seems that polarization has become so ingrained that there’s no room left for middle ground. Watching online conversations and debates, no one seems willing to reach across the aisle. Instead, friendships dissolve, families break apart, and people label their political opponents and followers as one would label their worst enemies. In my view, this climate reflects not only political discord but, more profoundly, a spiritual crisis. Sadly, there’s little evidence of the love, unity, and humility that Jesus taught. Instead, I see a nation at war within itself—a kind of “cold civil war”—and this divide is precisely what America’s adversaries would want. A country divided is a country vulnerable.
Division as a Spiritual Weapon
This brings to mind teachings from C.S. Lewis and Tim Keller on one of the devil’s most effective tactics: divide and conquer. He first stirs up strife and division, setting people against one another, and then begins his work of destruction. History shows that empires rarely fall from external attacks; they collapse from internal, festering conflicts and fractured loyalties. In other words, the devil’s tactic is to turn people away from loving one another, making them see each other as enemies.
Jesus once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” America’s greatest threat may not be external enemies like Russia, China, or Iran; it might be the inability to overcome internal hatred, bitterness, and division. They will know we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). If Christian America cannot find the love to bridge political divides, the consequences will be dire.
Repentance and the Call to Love Our Enemies
Jesus taught us not only to love our neighbors (or those who hold the same political stands as we do) but also to love our enemies. This doesn’t just mean geopolitical enemies; it means anyone we’ve come to view as an adversary, including the neighbor or family member who votes differently. It is truly heartbreaking to see Christian Americans viewing those with different political beliefs as enemies rather than fellow brothers and sisters. Only by returning to the teachings of Christ—of unity, love, empathy, and understanding—can America overcome the division that threatens to tear it apart. If people can rediscover love, even for those who disagree with them, healing and restoration can be achieved for communities, churches, and, ultimately, the entire nation.
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined”
(Jesus, Matthew 12:25)
The Theology of Love: Christianity’s Most Underrated Doctrine
