OSTRACIZED

Just A Thought To Think About – OSTRACIZED.

We have all met people who have a mannerism of acting as though they are “superior” and others are “inferior” by comparison. It happens in the world of politics in this contemporary world. There is little discipline when it comes to making accusation(s) against an opponent for a particular office. For those who blindly follow a political party of one stripe or another, that type of statement gains traction and it is believed whether or not it is true.

This is particularly sad when it occurs within the religious community and particular groups. Rather than following the Lord and Scriptural principles, some people will follow a person who exudes self-confidence and/or who is well off financially. It is easy to see the ruins that are left behind in the lives of people and structures that have been preserved and identified as “The Church.” Therein is the major error. The “Church” has never been a structure built but in much differently described in Biblical terminology.

Jesus was anything but vague when it came to His description of what His followers are and how they are to be identified. Just a quick view in the Gospel of John. Chapter 10, His people are identified as sheep who are part of His flock; Chapter 13, He set an example that His people should be humble and willing to become a servant (even to washing one another’s feet); Chapter 15, when His people are identified as branches that are attached to Him Who is The TrueVine (and the branches are to be fruitful).

Why is it that we tend to miss the obvious? In John 21, when Jesus was ascertaining whether or not Peter truly loved Him, Jesus stressed that he was to take care of His lambs and His sheep. In this way, one will be more and more like The Master and Teacher – Jesus Christ.

But then – along comes the strong natural leader types who readily ostracize the humble follower and disregards a part of the body of Christ which is deemed essential to the complete function of that body (See: First Corinthians 12:20-22). When this occurs, people will either change where they worship or stop going to a place where “ostracizing” is tolerated and those deemed lesser are made to feel unwanted and unneeded.

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me!