“As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you: Live a life that is worthy of the calling He has graciously extended to you. Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love. Make every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit has already created, with peace binding you together. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were all called to pursue one hope. There is one Lord Jesus, one living faith, one ceremonial washing through baptism, and one God—the Father over all who is above all, through all, and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6, The Voice)

Note: In regard to preserving the unity, it doesn’t say, “make an effort if you feel like it” or “try it if the mood strikes you.” It says “make every effort.”

That means “do everything with in your power so far as it depends on you to preserve the unity the Spirit has already created.

It seems lately, American believers (I can’t speak for any other believers) have done a poor job of fighting for unity rather than fighting with each other and tarnishing the name of Jesus in the process.

Regardless of who wins the election, our allegiance will still be first and foremost to Jesus. It will do us no good if we win the political arguments and lose the relationships with those who desperately need to hear the good news of the gospel.

It gets harder and harder to remember that our real battle isn’t against flesh and blood but against the evil spiritual forces behind the scenes. Maybe what you need to do instead of bashing the politician is pray for them.

Don’t lose friendships over differing political views. That degrades democracy and free thinking (and yes, I completely stole that one from a post I saw on Facebook).

Remember most of all that you gain far more by loving someone well than by winning an argument. Jesus showed the best way of all when He laid down His life for His friends (and for His enemies as well). I’d like to see more of that this election season.