I went to bed before President Trump finished his lengthy State of the Union address, but I did stay up long enough to see the U.S. men’s hockey team honored as they entered the House chamber.
In a rare moment of unity within our politically polarized culture—made all the more noticeable by the absence of many members and the visible restraint of others—the hockey team received a standing ovation from both Republicans and Democrats. For a brief moment, applause crossed party lines.
I admit I am not a huge hockey fan. But after the U.S. women won gold over the favored Canadian team in dramatic overtime fashion, I found myself wondering whether the men could do the same. Remarkably, they did—securing a thrilling 2–1 overtime victory over Canada.
When a reporter posed a political leading question to Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, his response was unfiltered and heartfelt:
“This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The U.S. is a hockey brotherhood. It’s so strong, and we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be an American today.”
The image of Hughes—draped in an American flag, missing two front teeth lost in the game, and speaking with unmistakable emotion—was iconic. The Wall Street Journal editorial board captured the moment well:
“There isn’t much that unifies all of America today, but the overtime victories by the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams ought to qualify for anyone with a modicum of patriotic feeling.”
That observation reminds us how deeply divided our nation—and even our world—has become over politics, cultural values, and religion. Sadly, those divisions sometimes appear even among brethren. Too often, disagreements spill onto social media, marked by unkind words, harsh judgments, and fractured relationships.
There will never be 100 percent agreement in politics. We all have personal preferences. Our backgrounds, education, and family heritage shape our perspectives. We hold opinions on a wide range of issues, and that reality is not going away.
However, we ought to be united in Christ.
According to my Bible program, the expression “in Christ” appears 87 times in the New Testament, most frequently in Paul’s epistles. The phrase speaks to the believer’s union with Christ—our position in Christ, our identity in Christ, and our unity in Christ.
Consider just a few examples:
Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 12:5
“So we, though many, are one body in Christ…”
1 Corinthians 15:22
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
Galatians 2:17
“But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ…”
Ephesians 1:3
“Every spiritual blessing… is ours in Christ.”
Ephesians 2:10
“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…”
Colossians 1:28
“That we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
Galatians 3:28
“You are all one in Christ Jesus.”
“In Christ” rises above a trite slogan or religious catchphrase. It describes how Christians live and how we are defined. It is the basis of every spiritual blessing, divine promise, and eternal hope. It also ought to shape how we treat one another within the Christian community and how we relate to the unbelieving world around us.
When we are “baptized into Christ,” Paul says, “we put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). We put on His attitude and His actions. His love, compassion, kindness, and servant-mindedness are qualities we are called to emulate.
More than love of country, greater than patriotic pride, and deeper than our cultural roots must be our love for God, His Word, and our citizenship in His Kingdom. We are a brotherhood of believers in Christ.
Therefore, let us never be ashamed to wear His name, stand for His cause, and unfurl His blood-stained banner.
Let us “rejoice in Christ” (Philippians 3:3) and echo the words of the hymn writers Keith Getty and Stuart Townend:
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease;
my Comforter, my All in All;
here in the love of Christ I stand.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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