Luke 6:35-36 CSB – But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Galatians 6:9-10 CSB – Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
The political climate in which we live has reshaped how many people think about relationships, and not for the better. It feels as if society has split into opposing camps where loyalty to one side requires hostility toward the other. The idea that someone on the opposite end of the political spectrum may have something worthwhile to say seems almost impossible for many people to accept. Conflict has replaced conversation, and contempt has replaced curiosity. Yet when we turn to Scripture, we find that God’s expectation for His people doesn’t shift with the political moment. The verses above reveal that our posture toward those with whom we disagree must be shaped by love, mercy, and goodness, offered without condition and without expectation of return.
I want to be absolutely clear about what comes next because the weight of it matters. When a person elevates their political views above the lordship of Christ, they’ve stepped into sin. Jesus says, “Love your enemies,” and yet many Christians feel justified in mocking those they oppose, attacking their families, spreading slander, or using demeaning language to score points in a cultural argument. These behaviors aren’t harmless jokes or expressions of frustration. They’re violations of God’s command to love, and they reveal a heart motivated more by allegiance to earthly power than allegiance to the Kingdom of God. If the words we speak or type tear others down, we’re not obeying Christ, no matter how strongly we feel about a political issue.
Here’s another command to consider.
Romans 13:1-2 CSB – Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.
And another.
1 Peter 2:13-15 CSB – Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
When these passages are read together, the message becomes unmistakably clear. God calls us to respect and honor those placed over us, even when we disagree with them, because their authority ultimately comes from Him. This doesn’t mean we endorse everything they do, nor does it mean we abandon discernment. It means we recognize God’s sovereignty and trust that He works through structures of authority in ways we can’t always see. Loving those who govern us, praying for them, and refraining from venomous behavior is part of our obedience to God. When we honor those in authority, we honor God Himself.
Placing a political figure above Christ and allowing that misplaced devotion to fuel sin toward another human being is a form of idolatry. Scripture consistently shows that idolatry is something that grieves God deeply because it steals affection and loyalty that belong to Him alone. If we allow politics to shape our character more than Scripture shapes it, we’ve lost the plot entirely. God calls His people to work for the good of all, to love without condition, and to live in ways that reflect His mercy to a fractured world. When we treat others with dignity, even those with whom we disagree, we reveal the heart of Christ and invite His blessing into our lives.