Okay, now you’ve probably got the tune stuck in your head! First recorded by the Righteous Brothers in 1964, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” has been covered by a bevy of artists over the years, and went on to become the most-played song of the 20th century in American radio and TV.
Is it just me, or does it feel like we as a nation have “lost that lovin’ feelin’” in recent months? Tensions are running high across virtually every arena of daily life. When you combine this pandemic and its economic hardship with unprecedented and polarizing political mud-slinging, unrest in our streets, and perhaps the most important presidential election in modern day history, it’s no wonder we’re existing in a ticking time bomb that feels ready to explode at any moment! But what can we as Christ-followers do to defuse the situation?
I think there’s a reason why so many verses in the New Testament speak not just about unity, but about unity among Christians, specifically. The enemy preys upon the Church because it represents his biggest threat. He doesn’t need to attack what’s already divided – he knows a house divided cannot stand. Instead, he (often quietly) infiltrates the Body of believers, seeking to burn bridges and threaten the unity of the Church. Time and again throughout his letters to the early churches in Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and Rome, Paul cautions against disunity and pleads for peace among the people.
At one point, he even calls them “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). In other words, Paul is saying, we’ve been set apart from this world by the redeeming grace of Jesus – so let’s live like it!
As the body of Christ, we have what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bear witness to the heart and life transformation that Jesus offers. While family, friends, and strangers alike feud over issues that are equal parts contentious and important, we have a choice to make: do we allow ourselves to get sucked into the name-calling, insult-hurling, morale-shattering behavior that feels so characteristic these days? Or do we choose the road less traveled, and meet hostility with kindness, harshness with gentleness, and anger with self-control? This doesn’t mean we cease to stand for biblical truth! It means that instead of acting like immature infants, we speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:14-15).
When we feel like we’ve “lost that lovin’ feelin’” toward those who think, act, or vote differently than us, let’s remember that everybody is a somebody for whom Jesus gave His life. That relative who you’re dreading having to see over the holidays? Christ sacrificed Himself for that person. That co-worker whose political views you find obnoxious? Christ sacrificed Himself for that person. That stranger whose words incensed you over social media? Christ sacrificed Himself for that person. In fact, we will never look into the eyes of someone who our Heavenly Father doesn’t love. And thank God for that – because the grace He offers to others is the very same grace that has set us free!
