The 2020 U.S. election is over and the Democratic candidate Joe Biden has been declared the victor. Most of the nation and world has accepted this and moved on, but let's take a moment to reflect on the state of the nation leading up to the election and what’s going on right now.

Leading up to the election, businesses were boarding up windows. Police were on high alert. People felt uneasy that riots, looting and destruction would break out. 

This is not how democracy is supposed to look. Voting is one of the most important rights an American citizen has, but it’s turned into a hateful, combative experience that leaves the nation on its toes worried about violence breaking out.

How did we get here?

Well, there are plenty of complicated answers that can explain how the nation is becoming so divided, but we want to offer one simple one: Not enough people want to be peacemakers.

Blessed are the peacemakers

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”

• Matthew 5:9 (MSG)

In the book of Matthew, Jesus says it is a blessing to make peace. It is good in the eyes of God to cooperate with others and to create peace rather than sowing division, hate and anger. 

Yet it seems like many of us are more interested in division than peace. This is unfortunate for anyone, especially those who call themselves followers of Christ. 

Some Christians think it’s OK to be hateful or violent because Jesus flipped the tax collectors’ tables or the book of Revelation shows Jesus coming back as a conqueror. However, too many people ignore that Jesus Himself said that the greatest command is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. 

We are not to give ourselves to hatred and division. We are not to take justice into our own hands. Jesus can flip a table to make a point, but we need to respect our neighbor’s tables to understand theirs, and so that they may understand ours.

Peace is active

Making peace is more than avoiding conflict. It is stepping into tense situations and actively saying no to conflict. It’s bringing together the hotheads and getting them to communicate with one another and cool down. It’s bridging gaps between yourself and your communities with other communities and people who might be considered enemies. 

Work on making peace in small ways in your life. As you seek to make peace, others may follow. Imagine what the world would look like if peacemaking became as infectious as sowing division. 

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. We are currently going through a new sermon series titled “Crazy Like Us.” It’s all about what we imagine Jesus would want to undo in today’s church to rebuild it to better fit His image and His teachings. 

Do you feel like the church has lost its way and could use some restructuring? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.