Being in a nation where political disagreements spill into personal relationships and even places of worship, the call for bipartisanship is becoming necessary. With the divide growing larger every day, many people are asking the same question: Can democracy flourish without respect across the political lines?
Bipartisanship is defined by the practice of seeking common ground between political parties, and it has extremely deep roots across American history. From the drafting of the Constitution all the way down to landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, progress depends solely on leaders who are willing to work together to connect without a political divide. However, in recent years, bipartisan cooperation has become increasingly rare. Harvard did a poll in 2020, which states, “More than two-thirds of Americans surprisingly agree that they ‘have more in common with each other than many people think,’ including 74% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, and 66% of Independents.” Barack Obama, at a Howard University Commencement Speech in 2016, stated, “Democracy requires compromise, even when you are
100 percent right.” Civil leaders and communities across the world, despite their political disagreements, do agree on one subject: Respect is the foundation of meaningful political dialogue. Without it, the conversation becomes less about policy and more about hostility. “By focusing on the importance of the dignity of the individual, we acknowledge the bonds of birth, hope, and freedom that gave meaning to our way of life,” said Ronald Reagan.
The rise of social media has made this issue so much worse. These online platforms often fuel hate rather than genuine political debate as a way of getting clicks and views. As a direct result of this, people feel uncomfortable expressing their political beliefs publicly. For the Gordon community that is rooted in faith, the question of bipartisanship carries even more value. When reading the word, we understand that compassion and humility are necessary, and that it is important to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
This shows how we as Christians need to show more respect and understanding within our society; we cannot function correctly without it. When we begin to elevate our politics above faith, we risk turning ideology into idolatry, which damages both our democracy and our spiritual life. Political convictions are definitely important, but they should never overshadow our need to show care for others.
In our future, if we keep the hope that we should restore bipartisanship, lawmakers will start to model by collaborating on issues with broad support, and we can encourage healthy dialogue in our communities. “A Christian’s political posture, in a word, must never be withdrawn. Nor should it be dominant. It must always be represent, and we must do this when the world loves us and when it despises us. … Christians are heaven’s ambassadors, and our churches are its embassies.” (From Jonathan Leeman in Favorite Quotes on Faith & Politics)
As we look ahead, the belief in recommitting to bipartisanship is not optional but essential. A democracy, after all, is only as healthy as the people who sustain it.
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