Getting Along: The Church's Quest for Unity a Polarized World

Contemporary American culture feels more divided than ever in living memory. Sadly, the division has worked its way into our churches. Evangelical leader Timothy Dalrymple contends that Christians, once united by faith, "are not merely dividing but becoming incomprehensible to one another." The disunity does not bode well for the Church's mission. In the hours before going to the cross, Jesus asked His Father to make His followers one "so that the world may believe that You have sent me." He knew that the world simply will not accept the Good News unless His Church demonstrates visible unity. In , Steve Pecota examines contemporary findings in social psychology that closely dovetail with the biblical message, demonstrating why humans are so prone to polarization and what they can do differently. Often with intimate vulnerability about his own journey, Steve addresses the difficult issues of systemic bias, cognitive distortions, and insider thinking that make all humans prone to blindly defend their in-group. Can the Church overcome her division and polarized thinking? The credibility of the Gospel message is at stake.