The Dangers Of A Political Party Spirit

Having said what I did about Democrats (they’ve lost their minds), I was reminded by a fellow writer that Republicans can be just as dense. I agree. The problem can’t be confined to one political party. In fact, having a “party-spirit” (ingrained prejudice) amounts to being sectarian. A sectarian person won’t work with you or listen to you unless you agree with their dogma, creed, or beliefs.

Dogmatic people are unable to see the good in another person who believes differently. They demonize the other group by calling them, “those people.” Their mind is like cement: thoroughly mixed up and firmly set. Dogmatic people are not consensus builders. A party spirit always foments strife, sows discord, slanders those who believe differently, and categorizes people into groups and factions.

I recall having a conversation with the late Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, a lifelong Democrat. I respected him. At one time he was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, known for his honesty. When we talked about my moral concern over abortion as a means of birth control, he exclaimed, “I wish more people would think like you!” I was conservative, but we communicated well.

Sectarianism in political life is very similar to racism in social life. It is difficult to reason with someone who won’t listen to another point of view or who hates the person with that view. Some of my richest dialogues have been with family, friends, and coworkers who saw things differently than I did and patiently reasoned with me. A discussion of differing ideas can be valuable, whereas attacking an opponent with emotions or slander or accusations is always negative.

Truth can only be examined in the light of clear thinking. We need more rational debates. A school teacher recently told me she wanted some T-shirts for her students printed with the slogan, “Can you justify what you are saying?”

My high school Civics teacher was using J. Edgar Hoover’s book, The Masters of Deceit, an expose about communism. After class, one student was dismissing the importance of understanding how diabolical the Soviet Union was, as though the murder of millions by Stalin didn’t matter. I watched our teacher, standing on his crutches, crippled from a WWII injury, being visibly shaken by the student’s refusal to wrestle with ideas; not seeing how important America’s liberty truly was.

The apostle Paul warned us about the danger of a party spirit. He said various factions of Jesus’ followers were saying “I am of Peter,” or “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Jesus.” Paul asked, “Is Christ divided?” The answer is “No!” Holding basic creeds or personal preferences is okay, but we can’t let them blind us or make us stop loving one another. When I meet someone and discover they are a believer in Jesus, I rejoice. I don’t grill them to find out if they meet my doctrinal criteria.

Jesus gave us a precaution about having a party spirit when he said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” They were religious leaders, doctors of the law, who gained political power much like Imams in the Muslim world today. They used their influence over political parties to their own gain. They were an entrenched faction that resisted God, violated the intent of His word, and helped to crucify Jesus.

We can’t let any party spirit divide the heart of America, nor splinter our churches. It is sinful. On the other hand, we must be fearless in pursuing righteousness in every arena, being wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove.