Us vs Them

Is there a group of people you hate? 

I hope you say, know with an amazing amount of certainty. But, let me challenge your answer. Is there a group of people that you avoid?

I’ve heard people say they avoid one particular race or another. Some people avoid Muslims. Some people avoid whites, blacks, democrats, republicans, liberals, or conservatives. I think you get the point. If we avoid any interaction between US and THEM, how do we show love to them? I am serious. Can you really show love to someone if you are not around them? How many people on your Facebook friends list disagree with you politically, socially or come from the opposite end of the faith spectrum? 

As I was reading Acts 10 today, I realized Peter and all the rest of his fellow believers lived a life completely separate from the Gentiles. They avoided gentiles because they were considered unclean. Read what Peter said about this;

“Peter told them, ‘You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.’” (Acts 10:28-29)

God told Peter it was no longer acceptable to isolate the Gentiles from his life. They needed to know the Gospel just as much as anyone else. So I ask again, who are the Gentiles in your life?

We need to find this “group” and find ways to love others. That certainly doesn’t mean copying what they do, what they believe, or their sins. It doesn’t mean we need to accept their sins. It doesn’t mean we join their sinful behavior or endorse it in any way. The Bible is clear. I think we can learn to love them and still be open and honest about what the Bible says about their sins. It does not have to be US vs. Them. 

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unsend world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 2:6)

If we are serious about reaching the lost, we have to stay away from fighting them. We need to rejoice over even one lost sinner coming to Jesus. The lost are not the problem. 

Remember to love God we have to love people.