Are Christians Known More for Building Peace... or Stirring Division?

Fritzpw_Admin · September 25, 2025, 10:56am

Around the world, Christianity is often associated with love, unity, and reconciliation—but just as often, critics point to moments of division, culture wars, and conflict tied to the church. Which image truly defines us today?
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Jesus called His followers to be peacemakers, even blessing those who bring reconciliation (Matthew 5:9). The Apostle Paul echoed this by urging Christians to live “as far as it depends on you, be at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Yet the reality of Christian witness in today’s world often tells a more complicated story.

In the public eye, some Christians are seen as defenders of truth who stand firm when culture drifts from biblical values. Others, however, are portrayed as combative, divisive, or more concerned with winning arguments than extending grace. Inside churches, the same tension exists—believers long for unity, yet often split over politics, worship styles, leadership disputes, or differing theological convictions.

History adds another layer. From the early church councils to the Reformation to modern denominational splits, division has frequently marked the church’s path. And yet, those same centuries are filled with Christian-led movements of peace, reconciliation, and healing—whether in communities, across nations, or within families.

This leaves us with an uncomfortable but important question: in the eyes of the world, are Christians known more for peace or for conflict? And perhaps even more critically, how do we as individuals and communities shape that reputation through the way we live, speak, and engage?

Is pursuing peace always the same as compromising truth? Or can the two walk hand in hand in a way that reflects Christ’s character to a watching world?

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KPuff · September 25, 2025, 11:38am

This is a poignant question; one that deserves some devotional attention.
I am reminded that this is also not a NEW question, but highlights a struggle (against the flesh) that the Body of Christ has been plagued with since the beginning.

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit (i.e. The outward expression of inward regeneration, the HOLY Spirit of God expressing His presence in us) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-26

It is uncomfortable to read “contentions” and “dissentions” and the like included in the list of “evident expressions of the flesh”. Some believers act as though they think those are their strongest Christian traits. When “contending for the faith”, we only remain testimonial of our Savior when we ignore the impulses of our flesh, and submit to the unnatural and unintuitive leading of The Holy (perfect) Spirit, even if that includes the uncomfortable experience of “weakness”, “fear”, and “trembling”.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Thanx @Fritzpw_Admin for this timely reminder.
KP

BayoR · September 25, 2025, 1:39pm

“Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph, but not through me” -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Jeremiah 29:7 says to “seek the peace of the city”, which tells me I should be involved in my neighborhood, and in my opinion that includes voting for the betterment of it. It was said of the early church that they had “turned the world upside down”(Acts 17:6), yet it’s not recorded anywhere that they lobbied Caesar.

Christians in the USA are not too well known for peace (myself included), and for good reason; many run to the news cameras, or social media, to air their grievences when offended instead of running to The One who “puts down one, and exalts another” (Psalm 75:7)

bdavidc · September 25, 2025, 4:05pm

I appreciate your concern about peace. But the real question is this: does peace mean avoiding conflict, or does it mean standing firm in truth before God?

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Yet James reminds us, “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17). Peace comes after purity. If truth is set aside, peace is only a shallow truce.

You quote Romans 12:18, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” That’s right. But the same chapter also commands, “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). True peace never compromises holiness.

Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). His Word divides light from darkness. That means Christians will sometimes be known for conflict, not because they seek it, but because truth exposes sin.

So here’s the dividing line: if peace means covering sin, it is false peace. If peace flows from truth, it is the peace of Christ. The world may see conflict, but God sees faithfulness. And “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

bdavidc · September 25, 2025, 4:37pm

Again I appreciate you raising these questions: Are Christians known more for peace or for division? Because with what is going on in the world today I have been thinking a lot about it. It depends on what kind of “peace” we’re talking about. Silence in the face of sin is not biblical peace, it is disobedience. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). That’s exactly what happens when Christians sweep sin under the rug, evil gets normalized and truth is treated as the problem.

God commands, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). Silence is not neutrality, it is compromise. Ezekiel was told if he failed to warn the wicked, their blood would be on his hands (Ezekiel 3:18). That same principle stands today. A false “peace” that avoids offense is the kind God condemns: “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). Covering sin does not bring healing, it brings destruction and we are seeing it this very day.

I appreciate you raising this, because it gets to the core: will we fear man or fear God? Many believers today are afraid of being labeled “unloving” or “un-Christian” if they speak the plain truth of Scripture. But Jesus already warned us, “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Being faithful to Christ will never make the world applaud. Proverbs 29: 25 is blunt: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” When Christians silence themselves to avoid being disliked, they step right into that trap. Instead of obeying Jude 3 to “contend for the faith,” they shrink back.

That’s exactly what we see in America today. People no longer know right from wrong. A major movement openly celebrates sin, redefines morality, and silences God’s truth. And because many Christians are quiet, the darkness spreads unchecked. Paul warned that a time would come when people “will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3). That time is here. Isaiah said, “Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter” (Isaiah 59:14). The fruit is confusion, corruption, and chaos.

But Scripture is clear: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The conflict in our land is not merely political, it is spiritual. When truth is silenced, sin fills the vacuum. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16). The answer is not retreat but bold witness.

Isaiah 30:10 describes the age perfectly: “They say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions.’” People want comfort, not conviction, and too many Christians go along to avoid conflict. But silence is not love. Love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). That’s why Paul commands us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).