Divisions can be beautiful. The Continental Divide, two roads diverging in a yellow wood, night and day—these differences and divisions are a part of life God calls “very good” (Gen. 1:31.)
Divisions can also be destructive. History is rife with examples of divisive destruction: civil wars, racism, hatred of minorities.
How can our differences, our divisions as it were, reflect the kind of beauty God shaped into The Continental Divide? How in particular can our spiritual differences reflect the beauty of the Lord?
Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia shows a way of looking at things and people that creates love rather than hate in our differences. He speaks in terms of life by law or flesh and life by the Spirit or grace. Let’s unpack that a bit. Life by flesh or law sees life as mine, to quote Gollum in Lord of the Rings—my church, my party, my life. Life by grace or the Spirit sees life as a gift of God which nurtures gratitude, not greed.
If life is my own achievement, possession, and reward then I can look at others with prideful contempt, not worthy of love, not good enough to be accepted. And I sure don’t want to share what is mine and mine alone.
If life is a gift of God’s grace, a belovedness which I have not earned but which I am given to share, then I can see others as loved by God just as I am.
So, a question: do I love my neighbor as myself? Do I love my neighbors as God loves them?