Finding Myself in an “Us” and “Them” World

            My first call out of seminary was to serve as the pastor of two different churches at the same time.  Because they could not afford their own pastor, they “yoked” together to share my time and the salary.  It turned out I was the only thing they could agree on.  Although they were only separated by three miles geographically, they were a thousand miles apart theologically.  So, the conversation in each church often centered on the differences between “us” and “them”.  One was seen as more liberal and the other more conservative and each criticized the other on the basis of that perception. 

An example of that was repeated every Sunday morning when they recited the “Apostle’s Creed”.  One church didn’t like the idea of Jesus “descending to hell” after the crucifixion because they didn’t really believe in hell, so they left it out.  The other had no problem with this concept and left it in.  Every Sunday I had to remember which church I was in, the one that was going to hell or the one that was not.

            When people grumbled to me about the folks in the other church I had to remind them that I was the pastor of that congregation as well and it bothered me to hear them speak so harshly about those entrusted to my care.  They were my people too.  They were brothers and sisters in Christ and one day God willing we would be together in heaven.  If we can’t get along for a little while in this world, how do we expect to get along in the next through all eternity?

            They were not the only ones to face this dilemma.  The early church was brand new and fresh-out-of-the-box when people discovered the differences that divided them in the world had followed them into the church.  Rich folks looked down on poor folks, Jews turned up their noses at the Greeks, and men had a hard time seeing women as their equal.  That’s why the Apostle Paul said, “In Christ there is neither male or female, Greek or Jew, slave or free; you are all one in Christ”.  In other words there is not supposed to be much room in the church for “us” and “them” language in the church.  It’s not about “me” – it’s about “we”.  The labels we attach to others may help us in a shorthand kind of way make judgments, but they will never give us insight into how others may think or feel. People are always more complicated than they appear on the surface.

            So, when we do disagree on the hot-button issues of the day and struggle to discern God’s Will the Bible says we are to “speak the truth in love”. This is the definition of Christian tolerance, which means we do not have to sacrifice our convictions to get along. We ought to hold onto what we believe to be true, but we are to demonstrate respect, compassion, and even love to those with whom we disagree.  Christian tolerance has muscle because it is centered upon the cross. Jesus died for all of us so we ought to try to be a little more tolerant and accepting of those for whom Jesus gave his life. Remember this the next time you find yourself throwing around “us” and “them” labels like liberal or conservative, fundamentalist or charismatic If he loves those folks we call “them” then we ought to do the same because they might be saying the same thing about “us”.