![]() It’s true that He shared some of the greatest spiritual experiences with only those closest to Him, but does that constitute a clique? Jesus had many disciples (John 6:60), but only twelve chosen apostles (Matthew 10:1). ![]() It has been suggested that Jesus was part of a clique, since He spent much of His time with only Peter, James, and John (Mark 5:37). We cannot change what we won’t acknowledge. ![]() When we acknowledge our prejudices before God, we have taken a step toward overcoming them. Believers must be aware of the tendency toward favoritism and stamp it out whenever we see it in ourselves. James 2:1 says, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” This favoritism may be due to financial standing, popularity, appearance, lifestyle, or personal history. Within the church, the presence of cliques can be spiritually devastating for new members and especially weaker believers. A circle of friends becomes a clique when they lose interest in meeting new people and are not particularly welcoming when someone new tries to fit in. It can become “us four and no more,” as the saying goes. So we naturally seek out those we already know, and that pattern can lead to the creation of a clique. Putting ourselves out there to make new friends can be awkward and uncomfortable. Lewis famously stated that “friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” When we find several people with whom we have that experience, we may prefer their company to those we don’t know well or don’t particularly care to be around. We cannot help but gravitate toward people who make us feel comfortable and accepted. First Peter 5:5 warns us about such attitudes: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” However, pastors who consider themselves above the common worshiper or who isolate themselves within a tight circle of a select few can unknowingly inspire their congregants to do the same. A pastor who is open, humble, and eager to connect with everyone often leads a church filled with people of the same attitude. But the Bible tells us to love everyone as we love ourselves (Galatians 5:14), including those who are different from us.Ĭliques are often associated with the immature behavior of children in school, but some churches also have a reputation for being “cliquish.” Certain denominations tend to propagate that culture more than others, and the attitude of the flock is often a reflection of the leadership. We enjoy being around people who validate our own perspectives and personality. When we find someone with the same likes, same sense of humor, and a similar worldview, we want to spend more time with him or her. People naturally gravitate toward others who are like them and, sometimes without realizing it, form a clique. Webster’s defines a clique as “a small group of people who spend time together and who are not friendly to other people.” The first half of that definition describes perfectly normal and acceptable conduct the second half, not so much.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |