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TalkingPoints–Part1

1

OneIstheWinAndyStanley

Scripture:John13:34–35;17:1,11,20–23;Matthew16:18 Idea:Wecandisagreepoliticallyandloveunconditionally.Introduction[Todaywebeginathree-partseriesthatwillmakeusuncomfortableandbetter.It’s

entitled…]

[TalkingPoints:ThePerfectBlendofPoliticsandReligion][It’simpossibletostayawayfromthetopicofreligionatchurch,butIusuallystay

awayfrompolitics.]

[YetwhenatopicintersectswiththeteachingofJesus,it’smyresponsibilitytotalk

aboutit.Thedivisioninthechurchcreatedbyourcurrentpoliticalclimateintersects

directlywithJesus.]

[Sinceourchurchesarelarge,diverse,andgeographicallydispersed,wearesetupto

bedivided.IbecamepainfullyawareofthistheSundayfollowingthe2016presidential

election.]

[Iwasatoneofourmoresuburbancampuses.Iwasinmypickuptruckinlinetoexit

theparkinglot.IwasscrollingthroughTwitter(mytruckwasinpark),andInoticed

thatIgotamentionfromanAfrican-Americanwomanwhoattendsoneofour

churchesclosertotown.Thisiswhatshesaid:]

“Icametochurchthismorninglookingforreassurance.I’mscared.Nooneevenmentionedtheelection.Ifeelabandonedbymychurch.”

[TowhichRepublicanswouldhaveresponded,“Scaredofwhat?There’snothingtobe

scaredof.Now,iftheDemocratshadwon?Thatwould’vebeenscary.”]

[Butshehadexperiencedthisinatotallydifferentway.]

Nothingdivideslikepolitics…PREVIEW