Us/Them

I have been doing a series called "US/THEM." It was developed out of seeing books being written about "Them." The church has a problem connecting with the world and part of the reason is the Us/Them mentality which exists both in the world and in the church.

Both Us and Them are looking for safety. For Us safety is found in the church. As long as we are hanging out with people who are like us and validate our opinions we feel safe. For Them, safety comes in wealth, addictions, jobs and etc. One thing I have noticed though is some of the same things They find safety in, We find safety in as well.

Both Us and Them are right. At least We think We are right and They are wrong or They think They are right and We are wrong. Our rightness comes from what the Bible teaches. Their rightness comes from experience or how they feel. As long as they are happy it must be right, right? I have also noticed that We live by the same rightness but ours comes in the name of God. There are so many times Our rightness has nothing to do with what the Bible teaches, but with our own personal preferences.

Both Us and Them are self-absorbed. Our being self-absorbed is justified--it is done in the name of religion. Their self-absorbed attitude has to do with Them. Ours has a greater purpose theirs is self-centered. Really? I have found in myself and other followers the tendency to be self-absorbed to the point that everything is about "Them." Not what Jesus wants, but what We want.

Truly there is no Us/Them. There is just Us. Mankind. People we pass by everyday whether on foot or in our car. Us. God's creation. While we separate ourselves between Us and Them God looks at just Us. On judgment day there will be a separation. That is for God to determine. For now we are just Us. And as we can see We are not very different.

The only difference is one knows God and His grace and the other lives without God and knowledge of His grace.

First question: Where do you fall? Are you trying to walk with God or walk apart from God?

Second question: If there is just Us how does that change the way you live?