Us vs. Them

For so long, many people have had a mentality of “us vs. them,” in an attempt to prove that we (Christians) are better than them (everyone else). I’ve discussed similar perspectives in other posts—for example, with foreigners, government, and authority. It is the same issue in each of these particular instances, but my arguments there are all specifically found in Scripture. Today, my argument is Scripturally-based; however, I have a profound story to share. This is a true story told to me by a man who works for the Pioneer Bible Translators. They do not just translate Bibles, but they also take them to other nations and serve as missionaries in these countries.

One of the missionaries for Pioneer Bible Translators was serving in Papua New Guinea. One day, he was talking to a group of men and one of the men asked him about Neil Armstrong. “Why did Neil Armstrong go to the moon?” The missionary was surprised by this question and tried to think of an answer. While he was still thinking, one of the men said “well, there must have been food on the moon.” Another suggested that the moon had water. When the missionary said that the moon had neither food nor water, the youngest of the men looks up with a grin on his face. “I know. The moon has the ladies.” The missionary said “No. I guess they went for the rocks.” The men were all astonished, saying “Rocks? We have rocks here. So tell me, why did America get to the moon so fast, but not come here until now?”

These men had heard the name of Neil Armstrong, but had not heard the name of Jesus. This story is just a perfect example of what this perspective can do. Americans were so caught up in the Space Race and proving that the US is better than Russia and that democracy is better than communism. Yes, maybe it did have some military strategic advantages, but it did not have to consume as much time and energy as it did.

In the US today, many people do not like Christians because we act as if we are better than them. Some Christians even believe that we are better than them, but we must remember that we all have sinned. With these people, we must humble ourselves and teach them without judging, without proving that we are better. Instead, we must show them that God is better. We shouldn’t worry about proving who is better because it is nobody. Nobody can win in these silly little competitions because God has already won. We seem to have lost sight of that.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21