Center for Creative Ministry A research organization and research center for Seventh-day Adventist pastors and their congregations
Love and Justice: The Two Greatest Commandments
Political divisions seem to be creeping into every aspect of society. It’s even affecting mental health professionals. Psychiatrist Elisa Brietzke reports that, “It has become more common for people to want to know the political views of their health-care providers.” A recent survey of patients found that “two-thirds of them reported talking about politics with their therapists, and that a better therapeutic alliance was obtained when they thought the therapist shared their political orientation.”
Christian churches, unfortunately, are not immune to political polarization. Many are experiencing a demographic shift as members relocate to congregations that align with their politics.
“One Sunday after church, a dear person approached me to share [that] she had decided to leave our church,” recalls Pastor Dan White Jr. “She gently stated, ‘Dan, I don’t feel safe in this church knowing there are liberals here who believe so differently. I feel like I’m being judged.’” A few weeks later, he says, “A couple came to me with the same intense concern, yet this time from the opposite angle. ‘Dan, we’re not sure we will ever feel settled here with people who hold such conservative positions. We need a church that doesn’t harbor such oppressive beliefs.’”
What’s a pastor to do? “I grieved that both of these folks could not stay in the mix together,” laments Pastor White. “They were repelled by each other. Rather than moving toward one another, despite their differences, they chose more distance.”
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor suggests that the solution involves engaging members in political discourse, rather than trying to remain apolitical. “The paradox,” he says, “is that while truth-telling is a prerequisite for overcoming polarization, [it] can also exacerbate it, especially in an environment where social media spreads disinformation and some news sources distort our perceptions of each other. As a result, many churches sacrifice truth-telling to maintain unity.”
He lists several recommendations for us to appropriately address the situation: Be engaged but not used. Be political but not partisan. Be principled but not ideological. And, be clear but also civil.
This current political climate can make it hard to follow Jesus’ injunction to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:34-40)
We can all agree on the “love God” part of the equation, no matter our personal political preference. It’s the second part that presents the challenge for many of us. How can we love someone who is obviously wrong (according to our perspective) and who our social media algorithm brands as evil?
Jesus follows up His identification of these two greatest commandments with a revelation of what is most important for Christians to focus on—justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Even those lofty ideals, however, can be skewed by political biases. Political affiliations too often taint how we apply justice and determine who deserves mercy.
And if we try to deflect the issue of loving our neighbors by focusing on loving God, Jesus shows us how to love God in Matthew 25:40—“Whatever you did for the least of these children of mine, you did for me.” We love God by loving people.
The two great commandments—love for God and love for humanity—go hand in glove. There are still some theological concepts that rise above petty political divisions.
For Reflection
Connecting: How has political polarization affected your family dynamics? Are your family get-togethers different now than in years past?
Sharing: In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus introduces two main characters who are sharply divided politically, socially, and religiously. How do you think the Samaritan was able to get past those differences to help the afflicted Jew?
- There are times when God compels us to see beyond artificial barriers and just see people
- His parents obviously raised him to a higher standard of personal morality
- He didn’t ignore those differences; he acted in spite of the differences
- He hoped that, by his act of kindness, that this could be the beginning of breaking down the walls of prejudice between the Samaritans and the Jews
- He didn’t have to intentionally ignore their differences or even think about his actions—he had the two great commandments written on his heart; his actions reflected who he was as a person
- Other:
Applying: Have you seen churches in your area (or elsewhere) where people have gravitated together due to political alliances? Do you see churches that exhibit a particular political bent? How can you help to create an environment in your own congregation that reflects Pastor Dan White’s desire that both ends of the political spectrum can worship together in harmony?
Valuing: Have you ever unfriended someone on social media due to political disagreements? Did you do this for the sake of your friendship—i.e. you prefer to remember the person as you used to know them rather than according to their current political manifestation? Did you do this for your own mental well-being? Can you envision mending this relationship at some point? What steps on your part would that take?
~ Chuck Burkeen
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