The Trump and Elon Feud and SBC Cooperation

What Two Billionaires Can Teach Us About the Need for Unity in the Church

In recent weeks, headlines have spotlighted a public unraveling of the once-curious alliance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Once praised by Trump and courted by Musk, the relationship has devolved into social media barbs and personal insults. Trump has labeled Musk “a BS artist,” while Musk has increasingly distanced himself from Trump’s brand of politics. Their high-profile “breakup” is just another example of the culture of fragmentation that defines our age.

Social media makes it easy to sever ties. A disagreement? Block. A moment of offense? Unfollow. A different worldview? Cancel. Our tools have discipled us in the habits of disunity—removing nuance and patience in favor of fast takes and instant tribalism. This is the air we breathe, and whether we admit it or not, it’s shaping our institutions—including the church.

The SBC: A Big Tent in a Divided Age

The Southern Baptist Convention is a diverse body. Theologically, ethnically, generationally, and geographically, we bring a lot of differences to the table. And in recent years, those differences have grown sharper. Social issues, political alignments, leadership conflicts, and theological emphasis have all contributed to rising tensions. Many are tempted to throw up their hands and walk away—to treat the church like social media: if you don’t like what you see, just “block” the whole convention.

But the SBC isn’t Twitter. It’s not a platform built on clout or algorithms. It’s a people united by a common confession and a Great Commission. What makes the SBC work—at its best—is not uniformity, but cooperation. We voluntarily link arms to plant churches, send missionaries, train pastors, and preach the gospel to a lost and dying world. That mission is too important to walk away from.

Unity Without Compromise

Our culture is confused about unity. It either means total agreement or total silence. But biblical unity is something different. It’s grounded in truth and expressed in love. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, we are to be “of one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). Not identical minds, but a shared direction.

We don’t need to agree on everything to cooperate in gospel work. But we do need clarity about what matters most. That’s why our confession of faith matters. That’s why doctrinal integrity must never be sacrificed on the altar of pragmatism or politics. And that’s why we must resist the cultural impulse to divide every time there’s friction. The kingdom is bigger than our tribes, and the gospel is stronger than our algorithms.

Conclusion: Hold the Line Together

Trump and Musk may go their separate ways, each with their own platforms and followings. But the church cannot afford to mimic their model of fragmentation. If we become just another reflection of the world’s division, we lose our witness.

As Southern Baptists head into another convention season, let us remember: we are not bound together by personalities or platforms, but by doctrine and mission. Let the world feud. Let the church be different.