The Problem with Cliques

 

By Andrea Merrell

You are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 NKJV

 

Have you ever tried to be part of a tight-knit group that refused to let you in?

There are a lot of different names for these folks: Clubs. Gangs. Packs. Clans. Factions. In-crowd. But whatever you call them, they fall under the definition of clique: a small group of people who share interests, spend time together, and don’t allow others to join them.

I’ve experienced these exclusive groups in social settings, the workplace, conferences, and large families. But the sad news is we find them even in the church.

To feel exclusive is to exclude others, and being excluded can hurt deeply and leave lasting emotional scars. Cliques can create dissension, confusion, and resentment. They perpetuate  the idea of conforming to the group while losing individuality. And heaven help those who go against the rest of the group.

I once heard someone say, “Oh, you Christians are nothing but a clique. You think you’re better than everyone else.”

Paul states in Galatians that we are all “one in Christ Jesus.” In Romans he says as Christians we are many but all part of one body—the Body of Christ (12:4-5). He also tells us that God does not show favoritism (2:11 NLT).

The Body of Christ, therefore, is not a clique. It is a group of like-minded individuals who love the Lord and embrace others, inviting them to enter God’s kingdom and become part of His family.

Are you inviting others in?

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash