When Faith Becomes a Flag: Spirit, Division, and the King We Say We Follow

We live in a time when the name of Jesus is spoken everywhere, yet often it feels like it is being used more to divide than to unite. Many Christians claim Jesus as King while aligning so strongly with political “tribes” that other believers are treated as opponents rather than brothers and sisters in Christ. This is exactly the trap the people of Israel fell into in the days of the Judges, as Scripture warns: each did what seemed right in his own eyes instead of submitting to God, the true King.

Judges 21:25 captures this sobering truth: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This verse is not merely historical commentary; it is a diagnosis. Scholars highlight that Judges 21:25 explains why the cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance repeated throughout Israel’s history. Without a central guiding authority, spiritual and moral chaos ensued. Temporary leaders, the judges, brought brief relief, but no stable structure enforced God’s commands or ensured obedience. Individual judgment replaced divine guidance, and moral relativism became the norm.

The relevance today is striking. Christians must ask: are we operating from Spirit-led discernment or flesh-led division? Spirit-led discernment draws believers toward humility, love, and wisdom rooted in Scripture. It listens before labeling, pursues truth without hostility, and seeks reconciliation while standing firm in conviction. Flesh-led division, in contrast, manifests as quick judgment, pride, and reactive hostility. It elevates ideology or personal opinion over Christ’s commands to love, forgive, and unify the Body of Christ.

Modern political polarization mirrors Israel’s chaos in Judges. Many believers allow political identity to shape their faith rather than allowing Scripture and Christ’s lordship to shape their engagement. Faith weaponized for partisan agendas replaces God’s authority with human authority, the Kingdom of God with the kingdom of man. The result is not healthy dialogue or spiritual maturity, but division, suspicion, and sometimes hostility among Christians.

Biblical truth offers a remedy. Judges demonstrate the consequences of life without God’s rule, yet God has provided His Word, His Spirit, and His Son, Jesus, the eternal King. Unity among believers is not optional; it is commanded. Jesus prayed that His followers would be one, and Paul calls for agreement and harmony within the Body of Christ. Love binds the community together and serves as the foundation for spiritual maturity, enabling believers to navigate disagreement with grace and integrity.

The cost of division is profound. When political ideology drives believers to demonize fellow believers, we have exchanged the Kingdom of God for the kingdom of man. The Kingdom of God is built on reconciliation, humility, justice, truth, and love with Christ reigning in our hearts. The kingdom of man prioritizes tribalism, polarization, and personal preference above God’s authority. Jesus did not die to create partisan Christians; He died to reconcile all believers into one unified body. The Church loses its witness when allegiance to party or ideology surpasses allegiance to Christ.

The call for believers today is clear. We must pause and ask whether our reactions are guided by political loyalty or by submission to Jesus Christ. Scripture should shape our convictions, not social media or party talking points. We must speak with grace, pursue unity even in disagreement, and prioritize honesty and reconciliation over victory and judgment. Loyalty to Jesus must surpass loyalty to ideology. Judges 21:25 warns that when we refuse one King, we become many kings, each following what seems right in our own eyes. True unity comes not from uniformity but from submission to the only King worthy of absolute allegiance. May our lives reflect Christ’s reign in our hearts, shaping how we live, vote, speak, and forgive, so that the world can see a unified Body under His authority.

About Maria Esmeralda (Essy) Rodriguez

Maria Esmeralda (Essy) Rodriguez is a Habit Formation Coach Practitioner and the Membership Director at GodKulture. She empowers Christian professionals with insights and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Coaching techniques and strategy to overcome resistance rooted in emotional avoidance. Through her work, she helps clients build lasting kingdom legacies firmly grounded in God’s truth. Want to dive deeper? Explore GodKulture’s insights on integrating faith-based principles into daily life and ministry.