|
I thought this article would be a blessing. I posted it in late March 2010 on our blog. Folks liked it then and I wanted to share it on our main site. Would love to get some feed back on it!
 For as long as I can remember, there has been the “us” and “them” mentality. For our purposes in this post we will refer to this as the UTM. When a child can fathom another child exists and there is interaction between the two, you can discern UTM. Often, brothers and sisters will come to blows over something. UTM is not confined to the family unit either. It spreads to anyone who does not agree with us, hurts our feelings, or anything that would serve to aggravate us. This has often been called childish behavior.
UTM only gets worse with age unless maturity, godliness, thoughtfulness, longsuffering, and kindness is employed. The fighting and bickering often escalates and scarcely known obscenities can reverberate through the room. People, who you never thought such a thing could come from their mouths, will give the other a “piece of their mind”. It is hard to detect UTM in its covert realm. Many times good and godly people will adopt this syndrome when dealing with their brothers and sisters in the faith. Church splits, divided congregations, and eradicated testimonies are just some of the consequences of the covert UTM. The reason why this can be so explosive is that innocent bystanders, who are not privy to all of the circumstances, are shocked when UTM surfaces. “Why I never knew such and such was like that!” some utter. Again, this is quite common, not just in the church house, but in the workplace as well! Honest citizens can transform into some sort of entity, not sure what to call it, and just blow their stack. Any persons in the proximity are subject to being the butt end of the UTM explosion. So how does this UTM work anyhow? Well, I am glad you asked. From my own personal experience I have seen how when someone has perceived they have been wronged, they often view the perpetrator as an enemy. Never mind the fact that they were close friends and acquaintances for many years prior to the altercation. All that is seen is the hurt and anguish that they have incurred. Yes, I am using an extreme example, but UTM works like this and can be milder or more aggressive. It just depends on how close to God someone is as to how bad UTM erupts. Simply put, UTM is not cohesive with Christian character. No born again child of God should adopt the UTM mentality. Many times in the Scripture you find the phrase “one accord”. Seven times in the book of Acts this great term is used in a positive context. Consider: (Acts 1:14) “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (KJV)
(Acts 2:1) “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” (KJV) (Acts 2:46) “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (KJV) (Acts 4:24) “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:” (KJV) (Acts 5:12) “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.” (KJV)
(Acts 8:6) “And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.” (KJV) (Acts 15:25) “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,” (KJV)
These words are indicative of how we should interact with our brethren. When we begin to break fellowship with someone, except for in the case of church discipline, we take sides and view the situation as “US” and “THEM”. Nothing good can result from this. The very first thing one does, in a case like this, is to get more “US’” than the “THEMS”. Sad, isn’t it? UTM is all too common among our ranks. Whether the issue is over doctrinal stands, the actions of certain people, the positions people hold in churches, organizations, etc., or whatever toxic problem, the point is that UTM is likely to show itself in even the greatest of personalities! So how do we combat this sin? Thanks again for asking! I am learning how to deal with this in my own life so I cannot say that I am an expert. In fact, I frequently take people the wrong way and put up my defensive wall of UTM to save face. It is really just a matter of pride. What God has helped me with is the fact that we who are saved by God’s grace… WE ARE IN THIS THING TOGETHER! I plan on using this phrase the rest of my life. Let put is together now… think about it! Even though we are wronged by someone, or do not entirely agree with a position someone takes, does not make that person my enemy. Our enemies, according to the Bible, are not flesh and blood. Consider: (Ephesians 6:11-18) “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (KJV)
When I have been wronged I have found that if I will just remember that I have most likely committed the same act, then the sting is not as bad. In fact, with time the STING will go away. No, I often remember what was done, but the sting is not as sharp! At all costs we have to remember that not one person is my enemy. Sure, they may just need the gospel of Jesus Christ, but still, they are not my enemy. This post may seem like mere ramblings from a needy person, but they are true. UTM is not something I want to embrace, but shun. Far too many of my friends have adopted this and have broken homes, divided church families and severed long time friendships. It is not worth it! Whatever you do, DO NOT ADOPT THE “US” and “THEM” mentality!
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
|
Article Archive 
