Sharing God's Love in Our Divided World

I have a confession: I vehemently disagree with a new co-worker. Since they are new, I’ve tried giving them the benefit of the doubt. I’ve tried to see their point of view, but alas, I just cannot understand how anyone can believe that pizza is best served cold. I mean, what is the point of even cooking it if we’re just going to eat it chilled? We might as well just dip some crusty bread in a jar of marinara and dump shredded cheese on top. It’s chaos. This debate is right up there with the classics: “The book was better than the movie” or “Does pineapple belong on pizza?”

While I feel strongly that pizza should be warm, I wish I could say that is the only disagreement I have with those around me. It isn’t. In our increasingly polarized world, there seems to be no shortage of things to clash over. However, as I read through John 15:9-12, I had to wonder: Does disagreement have to be the enemy of unity? In this passage, Jesus highlights that His love for us is intense—a direct mirror of the Father’s love for Him. As if that isn’t mind-blowing enough, He goes further and asks us to do the same. The command isn’t just to “be nice;” it is to love as He has loved us—a sacrificial, unconditional, and selfless action.

When the debate is just about the temperature of a slice of pepperoni, this doesn’t seem too hard. But when the stakes get higher, so does the unease with my ability to love faithfully.

In a divided world, this kind of love requires choosing:

· Compassion over indifference.

· Forgiveness over resentment.

· Connection over “canceling.”

It is an active choice that transcends personal, political, or social differences. It means placing the act of love above our own sense of justice or our burning need to be right. It doesn’t mean those things don’t matter—they do. But God calls us first to love each other as He has loved us.

As with all of God’s commandments, there is a gift tucked inside the obedience. In this case, the gift is Joy. Not a temporary “happy feeling,” but a complete, abiding joy that remains even in polarized times. I don’t know about you, but I could use more joy these days. If that joy comes through the challenge of loving those I disagree with, that might be the very incentive I need when the task feels impossible.

One way we might lean into this invitation is to start our day by anchoring ourselves in Christ’s love through prayer and Scripture, rather than the divisiveness of the news cycle. Maybe we start small: Choose one action today that shows love to someone with whom you disagree. Reflect the unconditional grace of Jesus—even if you’re doing it over a slice of cold pizza.