"US & THEM"
Much like many of my fellow Americans, I have been watching the events that have transpired the past few months within our country. If you were to ask some, the division in this country has been taking place for much longer than the past few months; they might even say for the past four years. Others would say the division has been going on for decades, if not centuries!
Social media and news stations are saturated with images of unrest, protest, and violence. Destruction and death seem to top the headlines of every post. And in every social media feed: hate speech, heated arguments, and (here’s that word again) division.
Now, it comes as no surprise to any of us when I say none of us see eye to eye on everything. I think that’s what makes humanity so great! Each of us is unique, not one of us like anyone else. But instead of celebrating our differences, we criticize them. We have allowed our differences to be the thing we use to cultivate an “us and them” mentality. We have seen this mentality work it’s way to the highest ranks of our American government, the same government that is supposed to represent the American people, in a symbolic image and a unified voice of a celebration of the differences of each person in this country. However, this “us and them” mentality has also made its way into another collective of people that is also supposed to represent a unified front chasing after the same mission. The Church.
Now, make no mistake, the Bible is full of “us and them” language. Matthew 25 records Jesus speaking about the day of final judgement. It’s here where Jesus uses the “us and them” language when he says,
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.”
Matthew 25:31-33 NLT
And in the book of Revelation the Apostle John records these words from Jesus when He speaks of the offense He has against the Church of Laodicea,
““I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
Revelation 3:15-16 NLT
Jesus does not speak in favor of division. In fact, I would strongly argue that Jesus fights for unity. Unity between us and Him (the cross), and unity between us as human beings. However, God has a glorious standard (Romans 3:23) and because of that standard, and our rebellious nature, the picture of unity was broken in Genesis 3.
However, if there is to be any place where the picture of unity that Jesus advocated for should exist, it should be displayed in the picture of the church. Unfortunately, I have silently witnessed members of the Bride of Christ, and even some within the same local church, attack each other based on the other’s political beliefs. This has caused the church to look broken, divided, and confused.
The Apostle John argues in the first chapter of 1 John that the body of believers are supposed to be in fellowship with each other, and that fellowship is to be unified in Jesus “who is life itself.” In this fellowship is joy (v.4) and it should be our desire for all to share in this joy. Joy? To be honest with you, with the division I see in the fellowship today, I don’t think joy would be what outsiders of the fellowship would say they see being displayed by those in the fellowship.
Ultimately, this is the purpose of this writing, it’s a call to action! Unfortunately, people often know more about what you stand for politically than what you stand for biblically. Throughout 1 John 1:5-8, John writes where the “us and them” line should be, the line that divides “us” the fellowship, those living in the light, and “them” those living in spiritual darkness. It’s the same line Jesus drew in Matthew 25 and Revelation 3.
This is not a call to live a perfect, sinless life. We can’t do that this side of eternity. In fact, John says, “if we claim we have no sin....or have not sinned” we are calling God a liar and we are fools! This is a call to stop arguing amongst ourselves over earthly things in public spaces (including social media), where those outside the fellowship can see the internal bickering and mock us for it, and move towards unity, move towards joy, and start fighting for the things that are eternal, so that those who are far from God can draw near to God and possibly be saved!
I leave you with these words from Jesus. Read. Reflect. Live it out!
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””
John 13:35 NLT
““I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
John 17:20-21 NLT