Can’t We Get Along?

On December 29th, the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, passed away. Carter was known more for his post-presidency work than his time in the White House. A faithful Christian, Carter taught Bible classes at his local church well into his 90s. At his funeral on January 9th, all five living presidents (Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden) were present. The current president, Joe Biden, vice-president Kamala Harris, and their spouses were seated on one pew in the Washington National Cathedral. Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump sat in another pew with their spouses along with Barack Obama.

One would assume that any personal issues you might have with another attendee during a funeral should be pushed aside as a sign of respect. However, it appears many were expecting some drama when the five presidents were forced to sit together. So much so that there were national stories the next day with pictures and videos of the former and current presidents laughing and talking to each other as if to say, “We are shocked these individuals can get along.” In one article published by USA Today, Trump is quoted as saying, “We have (a) little different philosophies, right? I don’t know; we just got along. But I got along with everybody on that. You know, we met backstage before we went on, and I thought it was a beautiful service, but we all got along very well."[1]

How is it that we have come to a place where adults getting along at the funeral of a past president is national news? Shouldn’t adults of different political parties be able to get along?

Carter’s funeral was just over two months after one of the most heated elections in US history. It was an election where battle lines were drawn, words too profane to write in this article were spoken against those of the opposing party, and families fought because each member was not voting for the same candidate.  When did unity become uniformity?

Individuals have told me it is difficult to attend worship service and be around certain members because of their political views posted on social media. Hearing that broke my heart. It is one thing that politics has divided a country. It is a much bigger issue that politics can and has divided churches. Churches are not united because of a political affiliation but because of the blood of Christ. In many ways, the state of the church is simply a reflection of what is going on in our country. Getting along when one shares a different political view can be challenging, even within the church. 

Scripture teaches us that how we treat others does not depend on our political alignment. Instead, it teaches us to live in peace with all people.

Romans 12:18[2]

“Live at peace with everyone”.

Ephesians 4:3[3]

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”.

Matthew 5:9[4]

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”.

 A Christian should strive to live in peace with everyone. More than that, we should be known for how well we get along with those who disagree with us – especially in the political realm. Most Christians would agree with these thoughts; the difficulty lies with living these thoughts out. Here are a few practical steps to consider.

1.    If you doubt your ability to remain Christ-like during a political conversation, avoid it.

Engaging in a conversation can be so tempting because you disagree with the other person. You want to prove yourself right. However, if you believe you cannot display Jesus to that person, it is best to walk away. This applies to your online conversations as well!

2.    Don’t allow someone’s political affiliation to determine how you treat them.

Every individual is made in the image of God. Because of that, it should not matter what an individual believes or supports. Treating them as someone God loves is vital.

3.    Remind yourself that Christ unites people of all backgrounds.

Consider the two apostles, Simon (the Zealot) and Levi (Matthew). Being a Zealot, Simon opposed the Roman rule of Israel. Levi worked for the Romans. Yet, these two were brought together because of Christ. He can unite all kinds of people.

4.    Be mindful that the posts you make and engage in on social media reflect your allegiance to Jesus.

Do you say that your allegiance lies with Jesus, but your social media activity would prove otherwise? Others are watching you on social media. Be mindful about what you post, like, share, and comment on.

5.    Remember that Jesus is our Savior.

Only one person has the power to save this country or any country. It is not someone who rose to power through massive donations, climbing the corporate ladder, or slowly rising through government. It is one who hung on the cross and rose from the grave.

I am not sure if we will ever see a time where a Democratic President and a Republican President having a friendly conversation won’t make nation news. I do know that Christians can either be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. I pray we all consider what it looks like to be a part of the solution.

[1] (Limehouse 2025)

[2] NIV Bible. 2011. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan Pub. House.

[3] NIV Bible. 2011. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan Pub. House.

[4] NIV Bible. 2011. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan Pub. House.