us Vs. them -- The Word Was God

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Date Posted: 00:14:46 04/22/02 Mon
Author: squeak
Author Host/IP: 12.82.227.229
Subject: us Vs. them
In reply to: ever-a-newbie 's message, "Just a quick question..." on 23:24:10 04/21/02 Sun

A friend of mine wrote this and I titled it Us Vs. Them mentality. It spoke to me and I saved it to word. Maybe it touches on what you are trying to say here, Newbie. My friend Evelyn wrote this:

"My usual reaction to various reports of disgraceful behavior with the "church" of whatever time period or denomination is to distance myself from it. The Roman Catholic Church did bad things to the Muslims and Jews during the Crusades? Well then I'm not Catholic. It has nothing to do with me! The reformers drowned the Anabaptists? The Baptists scourged the Quakers? The Lutherans persecuted the Jews? Well don't blame me! I'm not any of those guys.

Stuff happens nowadays: A minister of this denomination is involved in sexual scandal. Someone else is involved in financial scandals. People at that church roll on the floor and bark like dogs...And so ons and so on. Each time, I want to keep my hands clean by separating myself from those nuts. Those aren't the "real" Christians. "Real" Christians don't abuse their kids. "Real" Christians don't cheat on their wives. There are more and more "Christians" that I want to differientiate myself from. "My circle"--the "real Christians"--the righteous ones, keeps getting smaller and smaller. After a while there are only a half dozen people I'm willing to identify with. Maybe fewer! Maybe only my own household! Maybe not even that!!

But last year I read a book called "Numbered with the Transgressors" and it made an impression on me with regard to how I react to wrong-doings (or bad doctrine) within Christianity. What the author points out is that my natural reaction is completely contrary to the Spirit of Christ. Jesus identified himself with sinners. he was numbered with the transgressors (us, all of us, ME.) It made me see the value in solidarity. WE did all those bad things--not "them." Those are my brothers and sisters. Those skeletons are in *my* closet. After all, the people who teach hellfire are the vast majority of Christians. Do they have nothing to do with me? What would you think of a Jew or Muslim who disassociated himself from 90% of his fellow Jews or Muslims?

We, as Christians, are supposed to know ourselves as One Body. This willingness to be One with all who know Christ is a much more powerful witness, in my opinion, than an attempt at doctrinal purity that isolates me from more and more of the bad guys. There is disgraceful behavior and bad foolish doctrines in the family line of every branch of Christianity. Just as there was in Jesus's personal family tree. Nevertheless, we are One, we are family, one body. Wounds heal better when the limb is still attached to the body. If you try to heal the wounds by cutting off body parts, you got an awful mess on your hands.

Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. All of us. All of "them" too."

It's all about Grace! :)

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Replies:

And what did Jesus call the Pharisees squeak.... -- WOG, 01:21:57 04/22/02 Mon
- This was -- squeak, 09:21:00 04/22/02 Mon
  - When it comes to essentials squeak -- WOG, 09:26:52 04/22/02 Mon
    - Nope! -- squeak, 09:52:00 04/22/02 Mon
      - Oh! yes -- WOG, 13:10:29 04/22/02 Mon
        Deeds not people Wog (NT) -- squeak, 13:49:03 04/22/02 Mon
        That's right squeak -- WOG, 13:59:29 04/22/02 Mon
        That made no sense -- squeak, 14:05:47 04/22/02 Mon
        Oh so now now you are not a Universalist. -- WOG, 21:13:32 04/22/02 Mon
- Further -- squeak, 09:39:10 04/22/02 Mon
Well this might make sense to you then... -- ever-a-newbie, 11:52:50 04/22/02 Mon
- The only problem with that cute poem newbie -- WOG, 13:50:25 04/22/02 Mon
  - If you say so, I guess... -- ever-a-newbie, 14:00:57 04/22/02 Mon
    - Missing the point is not the issue newbie -- WOG, 14:18:02 04/22/02 Mon
      - Again, if you say so... -- ever-a-newbie, 14:35:40 04/22/02 Mon
        It's not because I say so newbie -- WOG, 16:35:25 04/22/02 Mon
        Maybe... Maybe not... -- ever-a-newbie, 16:52:28 04/22/02 Mon
        Accept how? -- WOG, 21:17:13 04/22/02 Mon
        I accept it as your belief... -- ever-a-newbie, 22:22:33 04/22/02 Mon
        And I would never deny you -- WOG, 23:20:32 04/22/02 Mon
- Whoa I believe that cry -- squeak, 14:03:03 04/22/02 Mon
  - So in essence squeak -- WOG, 14:25:11 04/22/02 Mon
    - Please don't try to -- squeak, 14:28:17 04/22/02 Mon
      - Well that's what you said -- WOG, 16:26:25 04/22/02 Mon
        You already have (NT) -- squeak, 19:10:28 04/22/02 Mon
        And your proof? (NT) -- WOG, 21:18:40 04/22/02 Mon
  - Well you hear lament... -- ever-a-newbie, 14:52:43 04/22/02 Mon
    - I understand -- squeak, 17:14:47 04/22/02 Mon
      - If you do, great... -- ever-a-newbie, 18:42:09 04/22/02 Mon
        And I understand that newbie -- WOG, 21:22:02 04/22/02 Mon