If Christians thought 2015 was bad, radio talk show host Michael Brown is warning people that 2016 may be even worse.
"Can you remember a time when America was more deeply divided? When pro-life vs. pro-abortion sentiments were as passionate, when our most fundamental freedoms were being threatened by LGBT activism, when competing policies on immigration and national security were as far apart?" he writes in an article for The Christian Post.
Brown says the divide among Americans appears to be greater this year, and those who hold biblical values may "come under more intense attack and mockery from those who differ with us."
"Prepare to defend your faith and your values in 2016 like never before. Prepare to hold your ground," he says.
This notwithstanding, Brown says today is the perfect time for Christians to build bridges to those who share opposing views, especially those who belong to the same circles as them.
"How can we possibly expect to have a positive impact on America (and I'm not talking about politics here) if we remain so fragmented?" he asks, rhetorically. "The more people turn against us and scorn our beliefs, the more we will realise how much we as believers have in common and how much we need each other. Now is the time to unite around the fundamentals of the Gospel and around our country's great need for God."
Brown says people should not get carried away with cheap slogans and political rhetoric and instead focus on building relationships. He then urged Christians to interact with Muslims, atheists, and homosexuals.
Despite popular belief, majority of Muslims in America do not condone violence and atheists only oppose Christianity because they feel a disappointment with God or the church, Brown says. Gays and lesbians are willing to share their hearts if only people start talking to them, he adds.
Brown did not want the fight against prejudice to stop there, since ethnic divide is still being felt. "You might be surprised to find out that they (those on the opposite side of the cultural divide) have strong reasons for their beliefs and values, which will only challenge you to reinforce your own," he says.
The radio host then cited 2 Corinthians 5:20, which calls on Christians to become the Lord's ambassadors here on Earth. That calling, he says, transcends being Republican, Democrat, or Independent, or being conservative, liberal, or libertarian.
"And as children of God, we can disagree without being disagreeable; we can be firm without being nasty; we can be immovable without being idiotic; we can say no to compromise while saying yes to compassion," says Brown. "Isn't this what Jesus did? Can we find a way to follow His lead?"
