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{"id":481,"date":"2016-03-15T14:43:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-15T19:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thenakedjesus\/?p=481"},"modified":"2016-03-25T22:39:46","modified_gmt":"2016-03-26T03:39:46","slug":"a-spirit-of-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thenakedjesus\/2016\/03\/a-spirit-of-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"A Spirit of Unity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"NEW-TNJ-22.fw\"$ <\/a>One of the most disgusting things coming to light in this election cycle is how divided we are as people. Now, I\u2019m not na\u00efve, I don\u2019t live in a dream world were everything is rosy. I know we\u2019ve been divided for long time, but this election cycle\u00a0has brought\u00a0to life the bitter inner demon of separation; this inner demon is always expressed with violence and insults. People shouting \u201cGo back to Africa\u201d or \u201cGo to F*#king Auschwitz\u201d is unacceptable, and expresses anger is a way that can never be taken back. Without opening the Godwin\u2019s Law can of worms, we have degraded as a people and lost our way.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe in the \u201cmelting pot\u201d mindset. Melting us together removes our individuality, and the heat and pressure needed to cause a true melting together will cause more damage. I see us as a \u201cstew.\u201d A pot where different ingredients are added, each holding their own flavor, each identifiable, and yet together the flavors come to life and are balanced.<\/p>\n

We need to ask:<\/em><\/p>\n

Can we find our way to unity?<\/p>\n

Do we desire to find our way to unity?<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t, or won\u2019t, answer those questions for all, but for me, I believe we can, and I believe we desire to, find unity. When we live with a spirit on disunity, we\u2019re not living in the Spirit of the Divine. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, \u201cYour courage and unity will show them what they\u2019re up against: defeat for them, victory for you\u2014and both because of God<\/em>.\u201d People claiming to walk with the teachings of Christ cannot stand in disunity; we\u00a0MUST stand for unity. When we stand for unity, people will know that we are a people different, and not driven by culture. Any person who calls us to be divided, is not speaking the truth of Christ \u2013 they are seeking to divide.\u00a0The Spirit of the Divine is a Spirit of Unity. Marginalizing people based on appearance, race, culture, gender, ethnic identity, class, sexuality, or religion simply means you don\u2019t understand the Spirit of the Divine.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"