“The United States Senate, designed to be the world’s greatest deliberative body, has been rendered a shell of its former self. . . I believe that the threat to our democracy is so grave that we must find a way to pass these voting rights bills.” President Biden

Biden has shown a recent shift in tone in the political theater and has begun to address problems he feels are substantial to the democracy of the United States, most recently the Senate fillibuster.

Filibusters are a lot like the last 43 seconds of the Alabama vs. Georgia game on Monday night. The results were determined, but we still had to wait a looooong time for the game to actually end.

Voting rights and election reform are on the horizon, and the Republican vs. Democrat debate about the Senate fillibuster made headlines. Namely, the fillibuster is blocking the ability to move some of these legislations to a final vote.

The senate fillibuster states that a 60-vote threshold must be met to end a debate surrounding legislation so a law can go into final voting. 

Even with a “simple majority” of 51-49, a law must contain a “super majority” of 60 or more to become legislation. In a divided nation, that task is sometimes fairly difficult for either party.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand”— a famous quote we know from President Lincoln. But before Lincoln said it, Jesus said it. In Mark 3:25, Jesus said “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” 

Especially since last week’s anniversary of January 6, 2021, tensions are high between partisans in the United States, and in the coming weeks we will likely continue experiencing tension and divide as a nation.

Remember this week to love others as you love yourself (Mark 12:31). This one act of Christ can resolve “a divided house” in ways that only Christ’s love can.

Let not a divided country become a divided Christian body.