Do you ever have the experience in certain organizations or groups you have to do all the work to make and maintain friendships with people? Maybe I am just a freak and alone in this, but I don’t think so. A lot of my frustration is due to the fact that being visually disabled makes this process all that much harder. I have been in bible studies, small groups, and committees where all kinds of different people come together for a common cause and build a beautiful and successful community. (I think the key point might be the “common purpose/cause”.) Then you’ll be talking to someone and they will share “I am in this amazing small group. They will go about how they really gel and get along, blah blah blah. And then, here’s the kicker, “Oh, our group is closed, we aren’t taking new members”. What is that? Really? This is especially irritating in a church setting. Church by default has a tendency to keep people out and alienated, and then you add this little zinger. Here is how it feels: we are building community and it includes a fortified castle with a moat. If you all can make it past the alligators and breach the wall, we might let you in. I am NOT bitter, o.k., maybe just a little. So, I stand here, a believer in Christ, made by God for fellowship and I am revisiting the non-inclusive cliques of high school. Awesome. Did you hear me? AWESOME!!! What would Jesus do? Read His words: He presses in when people are pulling back, He accepts when people are judging, and He loves when people are hurtful. When are we going to get it? True community comes when you go against the grain and do what feels uncomfortable and be different from the rest of the world. I share this, not to rip on those who are involved in such groups, but to highlight that the bible gives examples of doing things differently. I have found, sadly, that the world has a better pulse on this than some who follow Christ, and that frustrates me!
No comments:
Post a Comment