A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Division, Faith, and Following Jesus
Daily Office Readings:
John 5:19–29 • Romans 2:12–24 • Jeremiah 4:9–10, 19–28 • Psalm 71
A Pilgrim’s Honest Question
Lately, I have found myself asking a question that I suspect many are quietly asking:
Are these the worst of times… or are we simply seeing more clearly what has always been there?
Everywhere I turn, I see division.
Voices raised.
Lines drawn.
Certainty proclaimed with little room for humility.
And perhaps what troubles me most is not just the division in the world…
but the division among those who claim to follow God.
Follower of Jesus… Not Just a Label
Over time, I have come to describe myself less by the label Christian
and more as a follower of Jesus.
Not because I reject the term—
but because I have seen how easily it can become:
- a cultural identity
- a political alignment
- or a statement of belief without transformation
Paul’s words in Romans 2 echo deeply here.
It is possible to know about God…
and yet not live in a way that reflects God.
That is not just a problem “out there.”
That is a tension within all of us.
The Danger of Broad Judgments
I recently heard someone describe their experience leaving evangelicalism.
They said they had been warned that evil would rise, that the world would fall—
and now they see some of those same voices supporting what they believe to be harmful,
while still calling it “God’s will.”
There is something in that observation that deserves reflection.
But I also find myself pausing.
Because I know this too:
- Not all evangelicals think the same
- Not all progressives believe the same
- Not all who claim Christ live the same
And the moment we reduce people to categories,
we risk losing sight of the very humanity Jesus came to restore.
Have We Always Been This Divided?
If I step back and take a longer view, I have to admit something:
This is not new.
- Jeremiah lived in a time of confusion and national crisis
- Paul addressed hypocrisy and division in the early church
- Jesus Himself walked among political tension, religious corruption, and social fragmentation
And even in our own history, the so-called “good old days” were not as unified or righteous as we sometimes remember.
They were simply:
- more familiar
- or more comfortable for some
But not necessarily better.
The Myth of the “Good Old Days”
I grew up hearing about earlier times as if they were somehow more grounded, more faithful, more stable.
But when we look honestly:
- there was segregation
- there were wars
- there were injustices ignored or accepted
- there were voices silenced
So I find myself asking:
Were those truly better days…
or just less examined days?
What Feels Different Now
If something has changed, I don’t think it is human nature.
I think it is visibility.
Today:
- everything is amplified
- everything is immediate
- everything is public
What once stayed local now becomes global in moments.
And with that comes a constant awareness of conflict, contradiction, and brokenness.
It doesn’t necessarily mean there is more darkness.
It may simply mean:
there is less hiding.
We See Through a Glass Darkly
Paul’s words come back to me:
“For now we see through a glass darkly…”
That has become something of an anchor for me.
Because it reminds me:
- I do not see everything clearly
- My understanding is still forming
- My perspective is limited
And that realization does something important—
It creates space for humility.
So What Are We To Do?
If the world has always struggled…
if division is not new…
if clarity is partial…
Then what is the right response?
These readings point me in a direction—not of certainty, but of practice.
1. Look to Jesus as the clearest picture of God (John 5)
Jesus does not argue for power.
He reflects the Father.
He heals.
He restores.
He speaks truth without losing compassion.
If I want to know what God is like—
I must look there first.
2. Live what I claim to believe (Romans 2)
It is not enough to:
- know Scripture
- hold beliefs
- or claim identity
The real question is:
Does my life reflect what I say I believe?
3. Allow myself to feel the tension without becoming consumed by it (Jeremiah)
Jeremiah did not pretend everything was fine.
He grieved.
He struggled.
He spoke honestly.
There is room for that.
But there is also a call not to remain in despair.
4. Anchor in a lifetime of trust (Psalm 71)
The Psalmist speaks as one who has walked a long road.
Not without hardship.
Not without questions.
But with a growing awareness that God remains present.
A Personal Reflection
At this stage of my life, I find that I am less interested in:
- being right
- winning arguments
- or defending positions
And more interested in:
- living truthfully
- loving faithfully
- and remaining open to growth
I do not have all the answers.
But I am learning that faith is not about having everything figured out.
It is about continuing the journey—with honesty.
Are These Worse Days?
Maybe.
In some ways, things feel more intense.
But I am no longer sure that is the right question.
Because every generation has faced its own version of uncertainty.
A Better Question
Perhaps the better question is this:
How will I live in the days I have been given?
- Will I contribute to the noise—or to the peace?
- Will I deepen division—or model something different?
- Will I react—or will I reflect Christ?
Closing Prayer
Lord,
In a time when so much feels uncertain,
help us to be grounded in what is true.
Where there is confusion,
give us clarity of heart.
Where there is division,
teach us how to live with integrity and compassion.
Help us not to settle for labels or appearances,
but to become people who reflect Your love in real and tangible ways.
Teach us to walk humbly,
to listen deeply,
and to follow faithfully.
Even when we do not see clearly,
lead us forward.
Amen.
Closing Thought
Perhaps these are not the worst of times—
but a time that calls for clearer living.
And maybe the real invitation is this:
Not to figure everything out…
but to follow Jesus more faithfully in the middle of it.
The Curious Pilgrim 
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