Not in It to Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines The Church

by Andy Stanley

We know it’s possible for Christians to disagree politically. But is it possible for us to disagree politically without disrupting our unity? Jesus thought so. But it won’t be easy. Here’s one reason why: fundamental attribution error. Whether you’ve heard of it or not, you’ve certainly experienced it. Fundamental attribution error describes our tendency to attribute people’s behavior to their character, while attributing our behavior to our circumstances. When your coworker, who you don’t really like, is late to a meeting, you assume he’s disorganized, lacks a strong work ethic, and is probably not all that concerned about the success of your team. After all, how hard is it to be on time? But when you’re late? When you’re late, it is 100 percent circumstantial. Traffic. Crisis at home. You may go so far as to assume your reputation as a responsible employee is so airtight that you don’t even need to explain your late arrival. Your associates will assume it’s the result of circumstances beyond your control.