cliques

[ollie]

Clicks are a worldy thing and one of the many things of the world that one as a Christian should be called away from by the Gospel of Jesus Christ  

How are we "called away from" cliques?

BY the gospel of Jesus Christ and not just "cliques" but all things that are not of God, but of the world.

'Cliques" can become a kind of being a respector of persons.
Most cliques I have experienced usually abuse the intent of themselves by hurting innocent people. This is their being directed by the ways of the world and not the ways of God.

James 2:1.  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
 2.  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
 3.  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
 4.  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?


Main Entry: clique  
Pronunciation: 'klEk, 'klik
Function: noun
Etymology: French
Date: 1711
: a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially : one held together by common interests, views, or purposes
- cliqu·ey also cliquy  /'klE-kE, 'kli-/ adjective
- cliqu·ish  /'kli-kish/ adjective
- cliqu·ish·ly adverb
- cliqu·ish·ness noun

Merriam Webster Online Dicyionary

[Tamara]

No Tibby, I have never had any bad experiences with cliques.   And I am a loner...but not a lone wolf!!  LOL.  I just don't like to see any person mistreated in any way, manner or form if they believe in Jesus Christ, their Saviour and in God, Our Father in heaven.
You see, I believe that if a person is a true christian, that person should have the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.  And, the chief Fruit is LOVE. And, I have the gift of Discernment.  If people won't listen to the TRUE message of Jesus, then I wipe the dust off my feet and walk away.
If they don't display the FRUITS of the Holy Spirit, I also wipe my feet well and truly - and walk away.  And I never look back.
I dedicated my life to my Father in Heaven.  And, HE directs my path in life.  HE directs me to the ones I should reach out to.  HE directs my prayers.  HE searches my heart.  
Yes, indeed I am a loner!  Because I choose to be with my God.  The world is too contaminated for me today.  
Indeed, christians can be cliques.  And it is these cliques I prefer to stay away from.  

[ollie]

Oh, I don’t know. Seem to me Christianity is a clique. If you are not with us, you are against us, if you aren’t saved, you are going to Hell.

Cliques are groups of friends. You sound kind of like a lone wolf, to me. Have you had any bad experiences with cliques? Any that would put a bad taste on your mouth for them?

Can anything that is there for whosoever and all and isn't exclusive be a clique?
No one is excluded from Christ. If one is excluded from Christ it is because he/she has excluded themselves. Christianity is open to all.
The cliques of the world are exclusive to particular things and if one is not into the inclusive of the clique, one is not welcome and the clique can be very abusive and look down their noses at the excluded.

Psuedo-Christians can tend to be clickish and are worldy in these very things that God says not to be. By their fruits you shall know them.

[Tamara]

Exactly!! By their Fruits you shall know them!  And, I am not a christian.  Don't lump me into that category!!  I am a Follower Of Christ.  Christians rarely show the Fruits of the Spirit.  Followers of Christ do.

Tamara.

[nChrist]

Exactly!! By their Fruits you shall know them!  And, I am not a christian.  Don't lump me into that category!!  I am a Follower Of Christ.  Christians rarely show the Fruits of the Spirit.  Followers of Christ do.

Tamara.

Oklahoma Howdy to Tamara,

Here's another interesting example of the tags and labels of mankind meaning different things to different people. Mankind has made a pretty big mess of tags, labels, denominations, and other issues that cause confusion.

To me, "Christian" means follower of Christ and in Christ. The root and derivation of "Christian" is "Christ", but I can see how some people might have other definitions. I'm not sure the confusion could be solved with longer definitions. As an example, "What are you?":

I love Jesus and Jesus loves me.
I belong to Jesus.
I serve a Risen Saviour.
I am a child of God.
I am saved.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour.
I am a member of the Church which is the Body of Christ.
I walk and live in and through the Holy Spirit.

Some of these descriptions are fairly specific, but I guarantee that some would have various definitions and thoughts. Regardless, all of man's tags, labels, and denominations will be gone when we spend eternity together with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

In Christ,
Tom

[peachykeen]

What I also mean by cliques is that we tend to take another's opinion personally, and, without realizing it, have exluded them.  Like the athiests that come to this site.  I know they either come here for answers or to argue, but has anyone really tried to befriend them?  Salvation is not an argument, its something you share with someone you love and want to spend the rest of eternity with their friendship.  

[Forrest]

Exactly!! By their Fruits you shall know them!  And, I am not a christian.  Don't lump me into that category!!  I am a Follower Of Christ.  Christians rarely show the Fruits of the Spirit.  Followers of Christ do.

Tamara.

ACTS 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  1PET 4:16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

[nChrist]

What I also mean by cliques is that we tend to take another's opinion personally, and, without realizing it, have excluded them.  Like the atheists that come to this site.  I know they either come here for answers or to argue, but has anyone really tried to befriend them?  Salvation is not an argument, its something you share with someone you love and want to spend the rest of eternity with their friendship.

Oklahoma Howdy to Peachykeen,

I understand what you are saying. Yes, many people here have spent considerable time and effort trying to help atheists and other people who could be considered anti-Christ.

Some are somewhat open to discussion, but it becomes apparent that some come here to destroy Christian fellowship. Some are hunters, and Christians are the prey. You would not believe some of the messages that are deleted, hopefully quick enough that not many users see them.

We've had several professed atheists with us for a lengthy period of time. They obey the forum rules and don't post obscene, profane, or disruptive messages. We've had all kinds of folks from Satan worshipers to nudists and everything in between come here with an agenda of destruction and persecution. Some Christians comment that they learn how to better witness here. That effort is reasonable with some and impossible with others. For some, they are simply the devil trying to destroy and capture or persecute Christians.

In Christ,
Tom

[Sapphire W34P0N]

I understand what you are saying. Yes, many people here have spent considerable time and effort trying to help atheists and other people who could be considered anti-Christ.

This is just from what I have seen, but it always looks to me like the people here are preaching at the athiests, and not to them.

[peachykeen]

I understand what you are saying. Yes, many people here have spent considerable time and effort trying to help atheists and other people who could be considered anti-Christ.

This is just from what I have seen, but it always looks to me like the people here are preaching at the athiests, and not to them.

I agree with both Black Eyed Peas and Sapphire W34PON- some athiests really do come to try to destroy Christians as well as this website.  But too often in life we preach at peoples faces and not their hearts.  I'm not saying exclusivley on this website, but in everyday life.  Last year, in my speech class, my 3 closest friends (which I had never met before until that class) were all strongly anti-religious.  However they were some of my best friends.  When the class would get into a religous debate (it was a speech class, mind you) the christians would all get excited and start yelling and shouting and pointing at my friends who stood against Christ.  They were so busy trying to scream over each other that their message became twisted and pointless.  I helped them see more religious matters in a month than 10 christians (who did not know my friends) did in a semester.  Basically, my point is we need to get to know people before we start preaching our guts out.  Not everyone will be willing to be your friend, but those who are will always listen to what you're going to have to say.  Instead of forming a religious squad against a non-christian one, become intimate.  Really care for the people (which is why I wasn't too thrilled about that online debate that someone had posted a link to not too long ago).  I know we get excited when we preach about Jesus, but we need to make sure we don't gang up on the people we're trying to help.  Like I said, Salvation is not an argument, its something you share with someone you love.