The great illusion of our age is that the world must be divisible into clans and races and nations who inevitably hate each other. The histories of some countries—and entire political careers—have been built on this dangerous idea.
Left versus right; rich opposed to poor; theists against atheists; the educated despising the illiterate. Trillions of dollars, euros, yen and rubles have been invested to sustain this pernicious illusion, for much money can be made by channeling hatred and distrust.
So it is that grace, which teaches us that “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom 5:5)—grace will always seem so strange and otherworldly to people who believe that they have been fated to hate those different from themselves. The gospel declares of Jesus, “For He is our peace; in His flesh He has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Eph 2:14).
Grace is the promise that we can learn to love without divisions, without malice, without hate.
And when it comes to you, you’ll stay in grace.
—Bill Knott