“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7–8 (KJV)
In a world saturated with political tension, polarized opinions, and cultural unrest, the call from Scripture has never been clearer—or more urgent: Let us love one another.
These words from 1 John 4:7–8 remind us that love isn’t optional for the believer. It isn’t seasonal or circumstantial. Love is the evidence of our relationship with God. If we love, we are born of God. If we don’t, Scripture says we don’t truly know Him—no matter how many church services we attend or Bible verses we post.
And yet, in today’s America, love seems to be in short supply.
We live in a time when political affiliation has become more divisive than spiritual conviction. People are no longer judged by the content of their character, but by the party they support. Social media feeds are full of arguments. Dinner tables have gone silent. And sadly, even the Church has not been immune to this division.
But beyond the debates and digital conflicts lies a more heartbreaking reality: our streets are stained with the consequences of hatred.
We turn on the news and see violence erupting in neighborhoods across the nation. Acts of rage. Broken lives. Communities in mourning. From mass shootings to hate crimes, we are witnessing what happens when love is absent and hate is given room to grow.
This is not just a political or societal issue; it’s a spiritual crisis.
1 John 4 doesn’t give us a loophole. It doesn’t say, "Love those who agree with you." It says, “Let us love one another.”
This love is not passive. It’s not a feeling. It’s an action, a commitment, and a reflection of God’s nature. God is love. And if God dwells in us, love must flow through us—even toward those we find hardest to understand.
We’re not called to water down truth, but we are called to speak it in love (Ephesians 4:15). We’re not commanded to erase our convictions, but we are instructed to let love be the highest goal (1 Corinthians 14:1, NLT).
Right now, our country doesn’t need more commentary. It needs compassion. Our communities don’t need more division. They need disciples—people who will rise above the rhetoric and live out the love of Christ.
The evidence that we know God isn’t how well we argue our point—it’s how well we love our neighbor. Love is how we show the world that we belong to Him. And love is what will ultimately heal our broken land.
So, let’s ask ourselves honestly: Am I loving people—or just loving my opinion? Am I representing Christ—or just reinforcing my side?
We can disagree politically and still love biblically. We can vote differently and still walk in unity—if we choose to put love above ego, above pride, and yes, even above politics.
Let’s stop fueling the fires of division and start planting the seeds of peace. Let’s choose love. Let’s lead with grace. Because God is love, and if we truly know Him, it’s time we start acting like it.
Nickie McCarty is the State Director for Concerned Women for America of New Mexico. She is also a former educator and athletic director.
