The Growth of Polarization in Culture and Faith

The tendency to polarize is deeply entrenched in both American culture and within Christian communities, with this trend having expanded significantly over the decades. The speaker highlights that this polarization often leads Christians to propagate division rather than fostering unity and civil discourse, which indicates a significant failure within the faith community. This long-standing issue was notably recognized by theologian John Stott in his 1973 book, where he argued that the Christian community should strive for balance and charity rather than separation. The concern is that this divisive identity has now become so ingrained that fighting is perceived as a fundamental characteristic of evangelicalism.