By Kyle E. Sims - Posted at Gentle Reformation:
Published February 10, 2026
"The whole of our nation seems divided over two competing halftime shows at a football game, fueled by political differences."Abraham Lincoln famously quoted the Bible: "A house divided cannot stand." The nation had been grappling with slavery since its founding, and it was the leading issue that was dividing the nation, but it was not the only one. There were fights about tariffs and taxes. In the 1830s, South Carolina nearly seceded over the issue of nullification. There were ongoing debates about the role of the federal government. At a fundamental level, there was a general division between the Agricultural South and the Industrial North. But the issue of slavery brought everything to a head in the 1860 election.
Many today are concerned with the divisions in our nation. Of course, there have always been divisions in our nation, but there have also been buffers that have insulated us from the friction they cause. These buffers include geographical isolation, time constraints, and slow communication. These helped keep divisions somewhat moderate. People did not interact much with people outside their communities, which were often homogeneous. They were busy trying to survive, so there was little time to fight over divisions, nor was it wise to do so in communities where everyone needed each other. They were also spared the 24-hour news cycle, social media, and the constant contact of our modern world. They did not all agree on everything, but these divisions did not divide us into polar groups.
Slavery was an issue that polarized. It cut through geographical isolation, drew people into debates, and fueled newspaper articles. It was an issue that drew on existing divisions and left no middle ground. It was a wedge that divided our nation, polarizing it and leading to the horrors of war and destruction.
I fear we can see this in our nation again. All day yesterday, the debate was about the two halftime shows. But it was not really about musical styles; both shows were problematic. Both were filled with political and social overtones. One was a product of the progressive movement, and the other was a response by the conservative movement. I told a colleague that Karl Marx would be happy today. The whole of our nation seems divided over two competing halftime shows at a football game, fueled by political differences. While we will not go to civil war over halftime shows, country rap music moves me in that direction; there are some issues that could again drive a sharp wedge in our nation and bring polarizing division. We should pray that the Lord will spare us!
How do we, as Christians, respond to these divisions?