Breaking Down the Real Cost of Division and the Path to a Brighter Future
Introduction: Character Counts—Even in Politics
If you turn on the news or scroll through social media for just a few minutes, it’s clear: America is divided. Arguments rage over every issue imaginable—political parties, policies, personalities—and sometimes it feels like no one is listening to each other anymore. But beneath all the shouting, what really matters isn’t who wins the next election or whose side gets the last word. What matters most is the character of our country. How we treat each other, the choices our leaders make, and the values we put first do more to shape our nation’s future than any headline ever could.
So, what happens when those basic values—fairness, honesty, kindness—get lost in the noise? What’s the real impact of all this conflict? And why does it matter not just for America’s future, but also in God’s eyes? Let’s dig into these questions in everyday language that cuts past the politics and gets to what’s really at stake.
What’s Going Wrong? The Real Meaning of Unrighteousness
“Unrighteousness” isn’t a word you hear every day unless you’re in church, but it’s at the heart of the problem. In simple terms, unrighteousness means acting in ways that aren’t fair, honest, or compassionate—falling short of what’s right, especially by God’s standards. When political conflict turns mean, dirty, or dishonest, it isn’t just bad manners. It’s a sign that we’ve lost sight of what truly matters.
Think about it: when politicians and everyday people choose winning over truth, power over kindness, and division over unity, the whole country feels it. Laws get twisted to favor one side. Lies spread more quickly than facts. People stop trusting leaders—and each other. This isn’t just a “political problem.” It’s a spiritual one. Because doing what’s right isn’t optional in God’s eyes—it’s the foundation for a healthy, honorable society.
God’s Standard: Why Righteousness Exalts a Nation
There’s a simple message in the Bible that’s as true today as when it was written: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) What does that mean for America right now? It means that every time we trade truth for spin, compassion for cruelty, or justice for injustice, we’re dragging our country down—and dishonoring God in the process.
God cares about the choices we make as a nation because those choices affect real lives. When America is built on fairness, honesty, and respect, people thrive. There’s trust between neighbors, hope for the future, and a sense of unity. But when those values are tossed aside, the country loses much more than political points—it loses its soul.
How Political Conflict Damages Everything
It’s easy to shrug off political arguments as “just part of democracy.” But the current level of conflict in America is doing real harm. Here’s how:
- Broken Trust: When leaders and citizens lie, exaggerate, or refuse to listen, trust dies. People stop believing that politicians will keep their promises—or that their neighbors care about what’s true. The result? More suspicion, less cooperation, and a country that feels less like home.
- Division and Anger: Instead of working together to solve problems, people pick sides and go to war—sometimes literally, sometimes just with words. Families and friendships splinter. Peaceful debate turns into shouting matches.
- Weaker Communities: When fighting is the norm, important issues get ignored. Schools struggle, businesses suffer, and local leaders focus more on winning than on helping.
- Economic Trouble: Political instability scares off investors and hurts businesses. When corruption or dishonesty becomes common, everyone pays the price—jobs are lost, opportunities shrink, and poverty grows.
- International Respect Drops: Other countries notice when America’s leaders bend the truth or break promises. Partnerships disappear, and America’s reputation suffers.
- Hurting the Vulnerable: When morality drops, those who are already struggling—children, the elderly, the poor—fall even further behind. The gap between rich and poor widens, and hope dries up.
This is more than just a list of problems—it’s a wake-up call. The cost of unrighteousness is paid by all of us, every day.
Why This Dishonors God
For believers, the stakes are even higher. The Bible is clear: God wants us to do what’s right, not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. When a nation ignores justice, kindness, and truth, it isn’t just hurting people—it’s showing disrespect for the One who set those standards in the first place.
Dishonesty, cruelty, hatred—these are the opposite of what God calls us to. Political conflict becomes dishonoring to God when we put winning above truth, attack rather than forgive, and create systems that reward injustice. No amount of victory at the ballot box can make up for losing our moral compass.
Real-Life Impact: From News to Neighborhoods
You don’t need to look far to see the damage. Recent years have brought protests, riots, and angry debates not just on TV, but in our own neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. Trust is at an all-time low. People are afraid to speak their minds or reach out to those who disagree. Instead of solving problems, we’re stuck in a cycle of blame and resentment.
It’s tempting to believe that more laws or better leaders will fix everything. But history shows that real healing comes from the ground up—from ordinary people choosing to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. When citizens stand for truth, justice, and compassion, leaders follow.
The Church’s Role—and Yours
What can the church do in all of this? The Bible calls Christians to be “salt and light,” which means setting an example, spreading hope, and standing up for what’s right. This isn’t about taking sides in politics—it’s about living out faith in everyday actions. Churches should be places where honesty, kindness, and justice are celebrated—not just preached, but practiced.
For ordinary people, it starts small. Every honest conversation, every act of kindness, every time you stand up against injustice—you’re pushing back against the darkness. You can’t solve every problem. But you can set the tone in your family, your workplace, and your community. When enough people choose righteousness, those values ripple outward, changing laws, leaders, and the culture itself.
How to Find Hope When Things Feel Hopeless
Let’s be honest: sometimes the mess seems overwhelming. In times of crisis, rumors and false stories bounce around everywhere, and it’s easy to lose track of what’s real. The Bible offers comfort—reminding us that God sees the whole picture, even when we don’t. “Now we see only a part of the picture, but one day everything will be clear” (1 Corinthians 13:12). That’s a call to keep doing what’s right, stay hopeful, and trust that truth and justice will win out in the end.
Every step toward righteousness counts—one honest word, one act of forgiveness, one outreach to someone on the “other side.” Together, these choices rebuild trust, heal wounds, and honor God.
What Happens If We Ignore Righteousness?
Ignoring what’s right isn’t just a mistake—it’s dangerous. The past few years have shown how quickly things unravel when moral values are tossed aside. Social unrest, violence, economic hardship, and broken trust aren’t just random events—they’re the natural result of unrighteousness. When injustice, dishonesty, and cruelty win the day, everyone loses. Families break down. Communities dissolve. Faith in the country and each other fades away.
Laws stop working. Leaders lose respect. The nation becomes more fragile, less united, and more prone to crisis. The damage doesn’t just happen in government—it spreads into the media, schools, businesses, and even religious communities.
The Path Forward: How Do We Heal?
So what do we do? The answer isn’t picking the “right” political party or outshouting the “wrong” side. It’s about returning to the basics: truth, justice, and compassion. These are the building blocks for a healthy country—and the only way to honor God, heal divisions, and move forward.
Change starts with individuals—each of us choosing righteousness over deceit, kindness over cruelty, and unity over division. When these choices spread from families to neighborhoods, from cities to states, the whole country transforms. Laws become fairer, leaders become more trustworthy, and hope finds its way back into America’s story.
God honors those who do what’s right, especially when it’s difficult. Every time we choose honesty, help someone in need, or stand up for justice, we’re restoring what’s been lost and honoring God’s heart for our nation.
Takeaway: Every Choice Matters
No country becomes great by accident. America’s future won’t be decided by politicians alone—it’s built one choice at a time, by leaders and everyday people alike. Righteousness lifts up a country. Unrighteousness tears it down. So whether you’re leading, working, or just hoping for a better tomorrow, remember: your choices matter. When you stand for truth, justice, and compassion, you help build a stronger, more united nation—and bring honor to God in the process.
Let’s choose what’s right, together. The future depends on it.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 