The Divided Kingdom and a Divided Nation
We live in a time of incredible opportunity for the Church of Jesus Christ. Yes, we also live in a time of great division — but it’s precisely in such moments that the Gospel can shine the brightest.
As a pastor, I’ve never been more convinced that people are open to faith again. Just this past week, I met an evangelist named Adrian who shares the Gospel around Wythenshawe. He told me story after story of people eager to talk about Jesus. A simple invitation led to new children attending our Live Wires group on Wednesday night. It reminded me: God is still at work in our nation, even when the headlines seem dark.
But let’s be honest. Our nation is divided. We see it in conversations about politics, immigration, free speech, gender identity, and the economy. People are worried, anxious, and uncertain. Trust in institutions has been shaken. People are not sure who or what to believe anymore.
And yet, history tells us that moments like these are not new. In the Old Testament, the Kingdom of Israel itself experienced a major division. After King Solomon’s reign, the nation split into two: the northern kingdom under Jeroboam and the southern kingdom under Rehoboam. It was a time of political and spiritual upheaval. Two kings, two religious centres, and a divided people.
Why look back at this moment? Because the division in our nation today mirrors, in some ways, the division in Israel back then. And just as God worked powerfully through that season, I believe He can work through ours too.
Global and national disruption is not the end of the story. It can become the beginning of a new openness to the good news of Jesus. In unsettled times, people are often searching — for hope, for truth, for something that lasts.
As the Church, this is not a time to retreat. It’s a time to shine. A divided world needs a united Church. A confused society needs a clear message. A hurting nation needs the healing power of Jesus.
In 1 Kings 12, we see both the tragedy of division and the seeds of God’s redemptive plan. Our role, like the faithful people of God then, is to trust Him, listen carefully, and be ready to respond with courage and compassion.
The Kingdom of God is not shaken by earthly division. His purposes stand firm. And He has placed us here — in this moment — not to despair, but to declare His goodness.
