How to Unite These Divided States
Americans across the nation are reflecting on their own freedom and independence this week, and the leader of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN) is also considering how division across the United States is impacting the country’s unity.
“Jesus gave a warning about division in a nation when he said in Matthew 12:25, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand,'” said PPN Executive Director Gary Dull. “Our focus this Independence Day should be uniting an ununited United States. If America does not unite once again, it could bring our premature demise.”
Dull and his “Stand in the Gap Today” radio co-hosts, American Pastors Network President Sam Rohrer and North Carolina Pastors Network President Dave Kistler, discuss topics like these frequently on the popular, daily program that airs on 425 stations nationwide.
“We’re seeing divisions in the United States between political parties and racial groups; over immigration, terrorism and worldviews; concerning philosophy and religion; within families and communities; between generations; and inside the media, churches and families,” Dull said. “Division is rampant over issues such as gun control, international policy and even regarding things that should unite us in America today, like the flag, the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.
“All this is a symptom of a deeper problem,” he continued, “and that is that we have removed God from the forefront of our thinking in the American psyche and American culture. God used to be that which unified us. We are, indeed, ‘one nation under God.’ That is the truth, and it was what united us—but no longer. It goes back to the old saying that ‘united we stand, and divided we fall.’ We must also recognize that the devil hates to see unity. He will do everything possible to bring division in every entity, in every part of our nation. The devil does not like the principles upon which this nation was established. If he can divide America, then he’s had a victory.”
PPN is a state chapter of APN, is a group of biblically faithful clergy and church liaisons whose objective is to build a permanent infrastructure of like-minded clergy who affirm the authority of Scripture, take seriously Jesus’ command to be the “salt and light” to the culture, encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues, examine, public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits and engage their congregations in taking part in the political process on a nonpartisan basis.
