It seems to me that in order for God's kingdom to be what it is suppose to be, it is going to require us to be in relationship w/ God and one another. But this isn't going to be just any relationship. It's going to be one that is built on the foundation that we are to love God and each other.
"Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt 22:37-40)
Now over the years, I've heard quite a bit about people being either on the "fringes" or in "cliques." Call it personality differences but those on the fringes would be those who are more intraverted, keep to themselves, don't say much, sit on the outsides or towards the back of the classroom/auditorium, and usually don't participate in activities or events.
The flip side of this...sort of....are those who are in cliques. These folks appear to be more extraverted as they mix and mingle w/ people they are comfortable w/. They tend to be more involved and active but again....it's only w/ those who they are comfortable w/.
Obviously, comfort plays a big role in both of these categories as those on the fringes keep to themselves b/c interacting w/ others is uncomfortable and those in cliques only interact w/ those they are comfortable w/.
So I ask the question: Is this what God had in mind for his kingdom? Or was there something better? I would argue that there is something better.
Acts 2:42-47
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Perhaps this is what God had in mind. People devoting themselves to God's word, fellowship, sharing meals, being together, having everything in common, taking care of each other's needs, meeting in the temple courts and homes w/ glad and sincere hearts and praising God and enjoying the favor of all people.
When I read Acts, I don't see people on the fringes or in cliques. I don't see where people kept to themselves or only did things w/ those they were comfortable w/. And notice that God was "adding to their number daily those who were being saved." Why? B/c there was something so attractive and irresistible about this group of believers that people were drawn to want to join them. Can that be said about today's believers?
The kingdom is far different than any other kingdom in this world. And it's made up of people from different backgrounds, statuses, colors, beliefs, families, countries, where personality differences were considered gifts and not an excuse to not love God and your neighbor.
It seems to me that in order for God's kingdom to be most effective in this world, people need to get off the fringes and out of the cliques.
Here's how:
If you are on the fringe, get out of your seat and go talk to someone instead of waiting for someone to talk to you. Sign up for an event/trip/activity that the church or youth group is doing and get involved.
If you are in a clique, go find someone on the fringe and talk to them. Make them feel welcome and valued. Help them to get involved and encourage them sign up for the trips/events/activites that you are part of.
Let's seek to love each other and meet the needs of others by getting involved and using our differences to build bridges instead of using them as excuses to keep barriers between one another.
For Him only,
BW
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