Dear Beloved in Christ,

“Love is patient, love is kind…” So begins one of the most familiar and beautiful passages in all of Scripture— 1 Corinthians 13. Often read at weddings and framed on living room walls, these words from the Apostle Paul remind us of what love truly looks like. But in a time of increasing division and outrage across our country, these words are not only poetic; they are prophetic.

It seems we are living in an age of suspicion. There is a widespread loss of trust, whether it’s the headlines on the news, the comments under social media posts, or how we talk about people who disagree with us. Political rhetoric is often driven more by fear and misinformation than facts. We are quick to label and slow to listen. It has put us in a crisis in our country. In such a time, the love Paul describes sounds less like an ideal and more like a challenge.

But Scripture doesn’t present love as optional. Paul is clear: we can have knowledge, power, or even great faith, but without love, it all amounts to nothing. Love is not just a private virtue but the very mark of Christian maturity. It must shape how we live in the world, especially when tensions run high.

Imagine what it would look like if love were patient in our politics. If those we disagreed with were not treated as enemies but as neighbors. What if love were kind in our communities? What if we assumed the best of others instead of making assumptions? What if love did not boast or dishonor others, especially in talking about those on the “other side”? What if love did not delight in division but rejoiced in the truth—even when that truth was inconvenient?