Cliques? REALLY?

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:10 

I am not a fan of politics by ANY stretch of the imagination!  From office cliques to political campaigns, I dislike them all because they do nothing but create divisiveness!  We should be setting the example for others by getting along with one another, rather than creating chaos and discord.

As I am writing this, I am contemplating how to handle a particular situation where a team, who should be relying on each other and encouraging each other, has become divided....all because of a clique which has developed.

Look at what the Apostle reminds us:

     * LIVE IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER

     * LET THERE BE NO DIVISIONS 

     * BE OF ONE MIND

     * BE UNITED IN THOUGHT AND PURPOSE

You can't have cliques AND live in harmony with others.  You can't have office politics and be of one mind.  You can't be divided and be united in thought and purpose.

Isn't it time to let go of the childish games and start looking out for each other, encouraging each other, helping each other, and caring about each other?

ONE

There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, 

because the same Lord is Lord of all, 

who gives richly to all who call on him.

Romans 10:12 

 

I don't understand something....

     *   we all have people in our lives that we care about

     *   we all have hearts that beat that keeps the blood flowing through our bodies

     *   we all have minds that we are supposed to use to think

     *   we all breathe

     *   we all get hungry and thirsty

     *   we all have needs 

     *   we all have the ability to laugh

     *   we all have the ability to love

 

So why are we so focused on the inconsequential differences and use those as a basis to become angry and divisive? 

 

I am not a fan of vanilla ice cream, but I do enjoy chocolate peanut butter.  Does that make me wrong?  Does that mean my tastes mean more than someone else?

 

I don't like salad dressing, but I like salad.  Does that make me evil or just weird?

 

I sometimes forget, not intentionally though.  Does that mean I hate the things I forget?  

 

I am not a fan of politics (office or otherwise).  Does that make me someone to be detested?

 

I like to sit quietly and think.  Does that make me a horrible person?

 

I don't believe my life is of more value or of less value than yours.  Does that make be a hater?

 

The point I'm trying to make is this, we are all unique.....from each other, yet we all are the same.  We have more similarities than differences.  So why do we focus so much on the differences? 

 

We tend to focus on what a person looks like.  I've seen myself in the mirror (which proves beyond a doubt that God has a sick sense of humor).  We look at the clothes people wear, the car they drive, the jewelry they have, their hair, their homes, and we pass judgement on them for the inconsequential!  

 

When are we going to wake up and focus on what we have in common?  Jesus did not pay the price just for one race or gender, he died paid the debt for ALL who accept Him!  When will we stop FINDING reasons to be divisive!

 

We Really ARE One....When We Want To Be!

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 

~Hebrews 12:14-15

During the flooding which overwhelmed the residents of Columbia this past week, people worked together to help each other.  Entire communities reached out to those who suffered.  First Responders worked themselves to the point of exhaustion and still pushed on, because we became a single community of people.

Never once did I hear anything about race, beliefs, gender, preferences or any of the other irrelevant barriers WE have put in place.  For once, we realized that we all are part of the community of humanity.  People pitched in with manual labor; jumping right in to help with the clean up.  People opened their bank accounts and pantries to help provide for those who were without.  People gave and gave and gave!  

True, there were some who sought the spotlight, there were also some who became greedy, and even some who took this disaster as their opportunity to take what wasn't theirs.  But overall, people banded together; prayed for and with each other, accepted each other, cared about each other.

If God intended for us to be all the same, He would have stopped with Adam or Eve.  But God created us to join together as community, showing love to others regardless of our differences.

My question and challenge to ALL of us is this: When things return to normal, will we continue to see each other as a community or will the irrelevant divisive issues return?