There is a growing trend in the Christian body. It's called the spaghetti strainer.
As I talk to people, and experience a new season of life, (single to married, and now expecting a child) I have been hearing more and more of the phrases "well, they just are in a different season of life." Or, "we need to meet them where they are at" (often referring to younger people). And, "we like people who aren't our own age but I don't really have anything in common with them and it makes me feel awkward." That is just a beginning summary of the strainer. Essentially, our culture, and now we as the body of Christ embracing our culture (or at least wanting to fit in), has found itself in a place where every age, and every season of life, must be "strained" to fit in the right category. This has been something I have noticed in the general observations of church and personally in my own life. There are several reasons I think that the strainer of social interaction is so embraced by both believers and non-believers and these reasons alarm me. They alarm me b/c the biblical view of the body of Christ leaves no room for spaghetti strainers. I also, happen to love spaghetti, and love times with people in "MY" season, and see importance for it on occasion. I will talk more about that later, but first, some reasons I think that our Christian brothers and sisters are embracing "social separation:"
Selfishness-
Ok, that is a harsh word to use here, but my examples all boil down to that one word. For some, they like what they do, they enjoy their activities, conversation levels/subjects, and just general "comfort" in being the "same" as other people. Or, heaven forbid, if you are challenged by a person who has learned some valuable things in their new season of life, you might have to be convicted to change some things. Learn from someone "different." Grow.
Insecurity-
Yet another hard word, but really why else would people be "awkward" by people in a different season or age of life? Maybe because they just aren't used to it, haven't grown up with it (culture has worked hard to ingrain normalcy in separation), and it is scary or intimidating! People can often feel awkward, or uncomfortable. Taken a step further, one might be insecure or uncomfortable watching/interacting with people who have what they don't have...and want. So many times, I have heard single girls say about friends who just got in a relationship "well, that's nice for you, but I just can't be happy for you, or I can't be around you anymore, because it's just too hard for me." FOR ME...wow. Does that not sound once again...selfish? Since when do we as a body of believers hang out with friends and people only to feel comforted in our own discontent? It doesn't have to be in the area of romantic relationships, (although this is often the case)it can be just an idol that one has, that seems to be happily fulfilled in another person.
Granted, every person in every season has faults, has selfishness, has insecurity, and has engaged in separating from people not like themselves, because...we are all human. All sinful. My cry to my fellow believers is one out of sadness over what we have all allowed ourselves to do. Sadness because it is seemingly harder and harder to find people who want to and actively DO live out the picture of Christian community, the body of Christ, and example of Christ...for the GLORY OF GOD.
A few verses I'd like to share:
1 Cor. 12:12-27:
"The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
--My thoughts--This verse is very much saying that everyone in the body is important, that every member must function together for the body to work (talked about in previous verses in 1 Cor. 12) The Lord's goal in creating the body, is that there be NO DIVISION in the body, but that the members of it all have the same, equal care of the other. Also, if one person suffers, all suffer together. If one person rejoices, all rejoice together. So, people not wanting to be around people who are rejoicing over something that is not yet obtained in their own lives, or don't want to be comforting someone who is suffering because it is too much work, or intimidating....that...is selfish...and unbiblical. We all need each other, need community with each other, and need to honor the other, not just in word, but in real fellowship. I know I certainly don't take comfort or feel true care if someone verbally wants to tell me they care, and like me, yet won't be willing to be by me showing me through action that they do.
Romans 12:5: "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
We are all individually members of the body...and really, I see benefit for same age groups or same season groups to all be together. It can be a time of encouragement, strengthening and learning from the other and just simply enjoying the
"like-mindedness" of the other. As long as they are willing to pull from other sources in their lives, to see themselves not as a lone entity, but as part of the whole body, strengthening their specific part for the good of the whole.
TO THE GLORY OF GOD. We are all children of God, loved by Him. If we are walking with him, we are learning from Him, and hopefully listening to Him, living out His example. Living a life purposely separating from those in different places in life, or just...DIFFERENT from you...even scoffing at these people....is in no way...biblical. How can we call ourselves believers, yet not be willing to do what Christ did for us? He by NO MEANS kept himself away from those in different seasons of life. In fact, He loved the little children, hung out with the worst of sinners, and loved even those who betrayed Him. He had grace for ALL. Can we not ask Him to help us have grace and not pick and choose who we think deserves grace? For, isn't that what we are doing when we refuse to hang out with those different than us (for any of the above reasons)? If there is an elderly person who is lonely to know and encourage a younger person? Is there a brother or sister who is longing for Christian fellowship that runs deep and challenging but can't find it because they are single, married, expecting, or...you name it? Is there someone who just wants to encourage you by showering you with the love of Christ by just wanting to KNOW you? Do you reject this all in the name of "it's awkward?" Or, fill in the blank.
The Lord wants us, ultimately, as a body, to encourage each other, building each other up in truth and love, and He has created us in a way to need EVERYONE to do so. He longs for us to love Him, and one way to do so, is to love His people...all of them. He has not just love but ZEAL for His people.
Isaiah 26:11: "O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.
Brothers and sisters, if you claim the love of the Lord, then I challenge you to claim the love of His people. All of His people. For HIS glory, not ours. Not just in word, but in deed.
As I talk to people, and experience a new season of life, (single to married, and now expecting a child) I have been hearing more and more of the phrases "well, they just are in a different season of life." Or, "we need to meet them where they are at" (often referring to younger people). And, "we like people who aren't our own age but I don't really have anything in common with them and it makes me feel awkward." That is just a beginning summary of the strainer. Essentially, our culture, and now we as the body of Christ embracing our culture (or at least wanting to fit in), has found itself in a place where every age, and every season of life, must be "strained" to fit in the right category. This has been something I have noticed in the general observations of church and personally in my own life. There are several reasons I think that the strainer of social interaction is so embraced by both believers and non-believers and these reasons alarm me. They alarm me b/c the biblical view of the body of Christ leaves no room for spaghetti strainers. I also, happen to love spaghetti, and love times with people in "MY" season, and see importance for it on occasion. I will talk more about that later, but first, some reasons I think that our Christian brothers and sisters are embracing "social separation:"
Selfishness-
Ok, that is a harsh word to use here, but my examples all boil down to that one word. For some, they like what they do, they enjoy their activities, conversation levels/subjects, and just general "comfort" in being the "same" as other people. Or, heaven forbid, if you are challenged by a person who has learned some valuable things in their new season of life, you might have to be convicted to change some things. Learn from someone "different." Grow.
Insecurity-
Yet another hard word, but really why else would people be "awkward" by people in a different season or age of life? Maybe because they just aren't used to it, haven't grown up with it (culture has worked hard to ingrain normalcy in separation), and it is scary or intimidating! People can often feel awkward, or uncomfortable. Taken a step further, one might be insecure or uncomfortable watching/interacting with people who have what they don't have...and want. So many times, I have heard single girls say about friends who just got in a relationship "well, that's nice for you, but I just can't be happy for you, or I can't be around you anymore, because it's just too hard for me." FOR ME...wow. Does that not sound once again...selfish? Since when do we as a body of believers hang out with friends and people only to feel comforted in our own discontent? It doesn't have to be in the area of romantic relationships, (although this is often the case)it can be just an idol that one has, that seems to be happily fulfilled in another person.
Granted, every person in every season has faults, has selfishness, has insecurity, and has engaged in separating from people not like themselves, because...we are all human. All sinful. My cry to my fellow believers is one out of sadness over what we have all allowed ourselves to do. Sadness because it is seemingly harder and harder to find people who want to and actively DO live out the picture of Christian community, the body of Christ, and example of Christ...for the GLORY OF GOD.
A few verses I'd like to share:
1 Cor. 12:12-27:
"The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
--My thoughts--This verse is very much saying that everyone in the body is important, that every member must function together for the body to work (talked about in previous verses in 1 Cor. 12) The Lord's goal in creating the body, is that there be NO DIVISION in the body, but that the members of it all have the same, equal care of the other. Also, if one person suffers, all suffer together. If one person rejoices, all rejoice together. So, people not wanting to be around people who are rejoicing over something that is not yet obtained in their own lives, or don't want to be comforting someone who is suffering because it is too much work, or intimidating....that...is selfish...and unbiblical. We all need each other, need community with each other, and need to honor the other, not just in word, but in real fellowship. I know I certainly don't take comfort or feel true care if someone verbally wants to tell me they care, and like me, yet won't be willing to be by me showing me through action that they do.
Romans 12:5: "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
We are all individually members of the body...and really, I see benefit for same age groups or same season groups to all be together. It can be a time of encouragement, strengthening and learning from the other and just simply enjoying the
"like-mindedness" of the other. As long as they are willing to pull from other sources in their lives, to see themselves not as a lone entity, but as part of the whole body, strengthening their specific part for the good of the whole.
TO THE GLORY OF GOD. We are all children of God, loved by Him. If we are walking with him, we are learning from Him, and hopefully listening to Him, living out His example. Living a life purposely separating from those in different places in life, or just...DIFFERENT from you...even scoffing at these people....is in no way...biblical. How can we call ourselves believers, yet not be willing to do what Christ did for us? He by NO MEANS kept himself away from those in different seasons of life. In fact, He loved the little children, hung out with the worst of sinners, and loved even those who betrayed Him. He had grace for ALL. Can we not ask Him to help us have grace and not pick and choose who we think deserves grace? For, isn't that what we are doing when we refuse to hang out with those different than us (for any of the above reasons)? If there is an elderly person who is lonely to know and encourage a younger person? Is there a brother or sister who is longing for Christian fellowship that runs deep and challenging but can't find it because they are single, married, expecting, or...you name it? Is there someone who just wants to encourage you by showering you with the love of Christ by just wanting to KNOW you? Do you reject this all in the name of "it's awkward?" Or, fill in the blank.
The Lord wants us, ultimately, as a body, to encourage each other, building each other up in truth and love, and He has created us in a way to need EVERYONE to do so. He longs for us to love Him, and one way to do so, is to love His people...all of them. He has not just love but ZEAL for His people.
Isaiah 26:11: "O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.
Brothers and sisters, if you claim the love of the Lord, then I challenge you to claim the love of His people. All of His people. For HIS glory, not ours. Not just in word, but in deed.
Comments
Post a Comment