Ronald Reagan was the first presidential candidate I voted for. He is the presidential gold standard in my opinion. I miss his leadership and his whimsical humor.
Reagan rigorously debated Democrats over his policy vision yet remained congenial with most across the aisle. Stories abound about the epic legislative battles between Reagan and his primary political adversary, Tip O’Neill, speaker of the House of Representatives and a staunch Democrat.
Setting aside differences
However, they had an understanding that “come 6 o’clock,” party differences were set aside. Mutual respect separated their ideological differences from the need for basic human decency. The two were good friends and frequently enjoyed time together at day’s end. They remained opponents and friends until O’Neill’s death in 1994.
It’s not like that now. We’ve lost 6 o’clock in today’s America. A prevailing lack of mutual respect exists at all levels between people of different ideological perspectives, starving basic human decency.
Social platforms are the delivery system through which people are bullied, ridiculed, belittled and demeaned.
Christians are not an exception. Southern Baptists are obsessed with all things political, both nationally and denominationally.
Scrolling social media comments during and immediately after the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting was telling. The vitriolic responses of many regarding outcomes that didn’t go their way during business sessions were disrespectful toward others and the convention’s bylaws.
Ironically, the undercurrent of ubiquitous political opinions wrapped in Christian virtue is exactly what the High Demon Screwtape encourages nephew Wormwood to pursue in Letter 7 of C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters,” with the satanic goal among Christians being to make movements and causes “matter more to [them] than prayers and sacraments and charity … and the more ‘religious’ the more securely ours.”
Surely Wormwood has by now received a promotion for the depth of his widespread effectiveness.
One pastor recently captured the contemporary climate among Southern Baptists. “We are so divided we don’t know people with other viewpoints, and most don’t want to [know anyone with another viewpoint]. Our politics influences our evangelism more than the Holy Spirit does.”
The good news is that the tide can turn. However, it requires shifting energy from imposing political ideologies on others to pursuing Christlikeness rooted in the fruits of the Spirit.
In his book “Love Kindness,” Biola University President Barry Corey writes that in a polarized culture, kindness is a revolutionary, Jesus-like way to engage others, avoiding caustic certainty or confrontational posturing that alienates people.
He advocates for Christians to pursue a balance of strong convictions (firm center) with approachable, humble engagement (soft edges), reminding us that kindness reflects God’s own kindness that leads to repentance.
Corey’s approach is rooted in Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
It moves us from the temptation to see everyone with a different perspective as an enemy whose perspective needs correcting, to fostering a genuine relationship that cultivates gospel opportunities.
Endless insight
Beyond what Corey advocates, the Bible offers endless insight into how we can shift our combative approach through humility, thinking more highly of others than ourselves, embracing the mind of a servant, turning the other cheek, going to a brother with whom we have a strained relationship, etc. We have knowledge of God’s spiritual expectations of us. We struggle with the application.
We can practically engage while working out the spiritual. For instance, we can stop weaponizing social media. We can ask God to convict us of making politics our god. We can ask ourselves if what we are about to post causes division or builds up people and the body of Christ.
We can intentionally foster a relationship with someone of another perspective. We can listen to people rather than constantly correct people. We can pray for people. How can we be antagonistic toward people while praying for Christ to flourish in their lives?
Christians should absolutely take the lead to eliminate divisive rhetoric and work to cultivate a more civil society. The challenge is not whether we can find 6 o’clock, but whether we will.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chris Turner, editor of Tennessee’s Baptist and Reflector. This editorial will appear in the August 28 edition of The Baptist Paper. Click here to subscribe.
