How to Love People You Disagree With | Darren Mulligan of We Are Messengers

Christians love saying things like, "You love your neighbor." The problem arises when your neighbor is your enemy.
Where they have a differing ideological view, maybe a different political view, maybe a different theological view. And it's very easy to go, "Well it's us and them." You make them "other" and then you separate yourself and that's where division comes. And we remember that division is never of God, division is of the devil.
People would say it's hard to love your enemy. I actually think it's very easy. You do the same acts of kindness. You treat them with fairness. You treat them with justice. The same way you would treat your friends. So I think loving your enemy is much more easy than being fond of your enemy. You have to remember this, that Jesus died for me while I was still caught in my transgression and my sin. So He died for me and He rose for me when I was His enemy. And so His act of great love is being crucified and nailed to a tree and then rising victorious three days later. And that's great. That's amazing. But what astounds me even more is that God is actually fond-hear that word-fond of me. And He's fond of you.
And so I think the way that we deal with division is we go a step further than love and we say, you know what? I'm not just going to love you practically. I'm going to be fond of you. I'm going to desire your time, I'm going to desire relationship. I'm going to desire giving of myself so that you can have more of your life.
So, let's not just love people like Jesus. Let's be fond of people like Jesus.
#HopeOnDemand

[@LeahC70113]

The Bible commands division/separation from the world, so please be very cautious to mention the audience to whom you are speaking. Many who watch you are new Christians or not Christians at all, and even worse, were not taught proper boundaries, and will stay in toxic relationships or churches because of your words. You have a great platform, and therefore a great influence. Be very careful, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Where the Bible talks about division, it is referring to division in the CHURCH; this must be specified. So what does unity look like? According to the Bible: It is being of one mind and the same judgement.
1 Corinthians 1:10-12
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."
What if one is NOT of the same mind and judgement, according to God's Word? For instance when political views that are for abortion or the transgender agenda. Well the Bible says this: By their fruits you will know them. In this case, you must divide yourself from them.
Matthew 7:15-20
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
2Timothy3:1-5
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE."
Obviously if it's something that does not go against the Bible or our convictions, but is just an opinion, like when the rapture is going to happen, then division is ridiculous. But it can become something very negative even then, and the Bible has something to say in this situation as well:
Titus 3:9-11
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Bottom line: There are reasons to resist division, but there are also situations where division is necessary. You shouldn't mention one without the other just to make people get the warm fuzzies or "be kind." Be like Christ, speak in love and truth, and let the chips fall where they may.
Peace, brother.