I think it’s one of my favorite parts of almost any sports contest. Whether it’s 52 players leaving their respective dugouts to shake hands after 9 innings; or 106 gridiron warriors leaving their sidelines and crossing the field to pat one another on the shoulder pads, and ask how the wife and kids are doing after a grueling hour; or two MMA fighters crossing the octagon to give each other a high five and hug after they’ve beat on one another for 15 minutes; there’s something about athletes who compete hard against one another coming together after their match to demonstrate there’s something more than just winning or losing.

Church, it’s time to cross the field.

So, glad today is here. Let’s get ‘er done. Let’s know the will of the people as determined by a majority and the providence of God as determined by His sovereignty. And then, let’s move on and get back to being “subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him . . . For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. . . Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1Peter 2:13-15, 17 ESV). Yeah, “love the brotherhood” . . . time to cross the field.

More than the polarized divisiveness and the demonized rhetoric of our political public square grieving me, it’s been how that public square has played out too often and too much within our holy, set-apart community. Too much world-talk in church spaces, from my perspective. Too much world-attitude in the body of believers, according to my sources. Put your best commentary on it and you could say that it is equally saved brothers and sisters contending equally earnestly for the faith as they equally make good faith decisions on how to best equally love their neighbors by equally engaging in the process. Equally but not uniformly, nor unanimously, nor, unfortunately, in unity. Sincerely playing the game, but in support of different teams.

But now, prompted by John, I’m thinking it’s time to cross the field.

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

(1John 2:7-10 ESV)

Not a new commandment, but an old one. But not just an old commandment. Instead, one that’s new in the sense of priority and importance when it comes to abiding in light and to being light. New because it’s true in Jesus and, if we are in Jesus and He is in us, then should be true in us, as well. Not a light thing (as in “take it or leave it”), but a light thing (as in the darkness is passing way and the true light is shining). Love your brother, says John, it’s how you know you’re abiding in Jesus.

It’s been a battle over the past several months. Different positions, but similar passions. Different messaging, but like motives. Different sides, but all awaiting the same Savior. Now, it’s time to show a world that beyond today we actually live for a glorious tomorrow. Not because we voted for it, not because we deserve it, but because we’ve been purchased by Another and promised it. And, to that end, we’ve been asked to give up our rights, and to wear the banner of a special people, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Peter 3:9).

And how do we proclaim His excellencies? Can I suggest that it can start by determining to love — in word and in deed — our brothers and sisters in Christ — even those on the other side? Confessing what needs to be confessed. Showing grace where grace needs to abound. Extending goodwill, even if we’re still not convinced the other side had good arguments. In humility esteeming others better than ourselves (Php. 2:3). Receiving others as Christ has received us (Rom. 15:7). Showing a warring world about us that our ultimate allegiance is to the Lamb and to each other — His blood-bought, heaven-bound people.

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light . . .

Church, let’s abide in the light. Time to cross the field.

Only by God’s grace. Always for God’s glory.