Unity In A Divisive Time (Episode 1 - Archive)Unity In A Divisive Time (Episode 1 - Archive)
Relational Recovery
Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about Christian unity during a heated election season, using Scripture and an article by pastor Ben Cattarius to frame the discussion. They reflect on how politics can divide churches, challenge partisan labels, and call listeners back to a Christ-centred identity.
6:34•17 Aug 2026
Unity Over Politics: Faith, Recovery and Staying Together in Divisive Times
Episode Overview
- Unity in Christ is meant to sit above any political affiliation or party loyalty.
- Ephesians 4 calls believers to "make every effort" to keep spiritual unity through peace, which takes hard work.
- The early church grew by holding together diverse people while caring for the poor and upholding orthodox Christian convictions.
- Modern Christians often split biblical concerns along party lines, demonising those who emphasise different issues.
- Treating politics as central to identity and faith can become a form of idolatry that distracts from Jesus.
“"Jesus' people are not held together by political affiliation. We must never let it drive us apart."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety when everything around them feels politically charged and fractured? This archived first episode of *Relational Recovery* zooms in on unity during a tense election season, speaking directly to those in recovery who are tired of constant cultural conflict. Hosted by Wes Thompson with co-host Austin Hill, the conversation starts with a simple observation: "every time I turn on television...
there's just a lot of vitriol, a lot of negative talk." From there, they look at what it means to live as Christians in a divided society, without turning the whole thing into a partisan debate. Drawing from pastor Ben Cattarius’ article *Fighting for Relationships, Striving for Unity in Politically Divisive Times*, Wes reads out sections that set the tone. One striking line sums up the challenge: "Jesus' people are not held together by political affiliation.
We must never let it drive us apart." The pair reflect on Ephesians 4 and the idea that Christ has already made believers one body, so the task now is to "act like it" even when the political climate pushes people into opposing camps. They also highlight how the early church grew in a hostile Roman empire by being radically different: diverse communities, care for the poor, resistance to infanticide and abortion, and a strong view of marriage and sexuality.
Today, they note, these values tend to get split into partisan boxes, so many Christians "choose one side and ignore or demonize the other." The episode suggests that political identity has, for many, become "a form of idolatry" and gently challenges anyone in recovery—already working on unwanted behaviours—to ask whether their relationship with politics might need the same honest scrutiny.
If you’ve ever felt torn between faith, values, and the pressure to pick a side, this conversation might give you something to chew on: what would it look like to put unity in Christ ahead of every other label?
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