Christianity Today recently ran an article titled, “Many Churchgoers Want Sunday Mornings Segregated…by Politics.” The statistics the article was predicated on were generated by a survey conducted by Nashville-based LifeWay Research. I found the report unsettling for several reasons.

It seems that America is becoming dangerously and increasingly polarized by what I think are petty political passions. Common courtesy and mutual respect in political dialog are forsaken as we grow more bitterly divided.

This poll reveals…

This poll reveals that the church, which should be a model of unity and civility to the rest of society, may be failing to follow Peter’s admonition to “honor all people” and to “love the brotherhood,” 1 Peter 2:17. Is our culture having a greater impact on the church than the church is having on the culture? That seems to be the case here when it comes to politics.

Responsible Christian citizenship dictates believers should inform themselves on the issues and vote our conscience based on our biblical convictions. But political matters are not our priority, and should never be the focus of the church, nor the basis for worshiping together. Our priority, our focus, our worship should be now and always centered on Christ.

The late Billy Graham, said, “The central issues of our time aren’t economic or political or social, important as these are. The central issues of our time are spiritual and moral.” Politics matter, but they are not our mission; they are important, but they are not our priority.

Politics did not make this country great.

Politics are not what made this country great and are wholly incapable of making this country great again. The practice of biblical principles were the foundation this nation was built on and what made us the economic and political giant we are today, and only a return to those practices hold any hope for our nation to survive much less becoming great again. What our nation needs now is the example of a church united on biblical principles, not divided by the passing politics of this life, and certainly not divided in the house of worship.

Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” John 18:36. Worldly governments are temporal entities destined to falter and fail, the only government that offers any help in this life and hope for the next is the kingdom of God.

Our government and society are broken.

It does not take a rocket scientist to see that our government is broken, but that is all a broken society can produce. Only changed people can change things, and only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change people. When the church becomes more committed to political change than it is to changed lives it only adds to the brokenness we are all witnessing.

It is not what happens in the ballot box that will change things for the better, but what happens in our prayer closets. Believers should not sell their biblical birthright for a mess of political pottage.

Around ten years ago Dan Kimball wrote a book titled “They Like Jesus But Not The Church.” He made some good points about the disconnect between what the church is and the public’s perception of what they think it should be. As I see it, the reason for the disconnect is people are flawed.

People are flawed

The church is made up of people who are flawed. I know because I am one of them. Each of us in the church is on a spiritual journey and are at different levels of maturity in Christ making the church an imperfect work in progress. We make mistakes while learning to do better.

Then there are those wolves in sheep’s clothing who have committed atrocities and brought dishonor on the name of Christ and the work of the church. Things have been done that are inexcusable and received the just condemnation of a watching public. But these are the exception and not the rule.

But the same is true of the public’s perspective of the church; it’s flawed. Take the title of Kimball’s book, “They Like Jesus But Not The Church.” If one claims to like Jesus you would think they would like what Jesus likes and follow His example.

It was Jesus who introduced the idea of the church

This may surprise some, but Jesus Himself introduced the idea of “church”. He told Peter and the other eleven, “you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church,” Matthew 16:18. This is the first mention of the church in Scripture.

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul exhorted, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,” Ephesians 5:25. Jesus founded the church, loved the church and ultimately died to establish the church. That should at least rate a “like and share” if you like Jesus.

Those who would be the first to misquote Jesus saying, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged,” are the first to judge the church and say things about it that in most instances they know nothing about. After all, they are admittedly on the outside looking in.

Organized religion v. disorganized religion

Then there are those who say they dislike organized religion. What does that even mean? I don’t watch a lot of sports, but when I do I like watching organized sports. Does it mean they would prefer disorganized religion, or some level of disorganization they would be comfortable with?

Organized religion was corrupt and needed to make some changes in Jesus’ day. Hypocrisy was rife from the leadership down. But it did not stop Jesus practicing what He preached and engaging those who were leading God’s people astray.

“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath,” Luke 4:16. It seems Jesus made it His practice to be in His place of worship on His day of worship.

How do you like Him now?