I listened to the sermon last Sunday and I got the message..... that we must no exclude other people because god didnt exclude us. But I would also like to know bout the people who are excluded....what about the people who are are not excluding people, instead got excluded.... What can they do about it....example, if i got excluded and no 1 hears bout that sermon or didnt realize the wrong thing , then what can I do?? I'm think that a lot of people voted this topic because they are feeling excluded maybe...
After preaching last Sunday on exclusion, people wanted to continue to explore the topic more and to see what it was like on the flip side: to be excluded. The sermon focused more as a general message that challenged students to accept one another as Christ as accepted us, leaving no one out and remembering that what has happened on the cross is applicable to all. Check out the podcast here.
Let’s face it: We can’t make people love or like us. Everybody will not be your best friend. (how many of those can we have anyways?!!?) Sure, we might do things to get people’s attention and people might bring you into their group, but this does not signify real acceptance or welcome. In fact, once you’ve outlived your usefulness or are no longer interesting, you’re back on the exclusion list before you knew what hit you. There may be a hundred reasons why people choose to exclude you, there may be none. BUT, that doesn’t mean that NO ONE likes you.
What is our response to being excluded from others? As a follower of Christ, how should we feel and what can we do? Here are a couple pointers:
- Excluded, but never truly alone: The passage from the sermon (Romans 15:1-7) talked about the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scripture. It is this hope that binds us together as we are united in the common purpose of worshiping God. When we go back to Scriptures, we hear of Jesus’ promise to all who follow Him. He reassures us by telling us that as He “will be with us always, until the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) We are loved. We are never alone.
- Being hated, it’s going to happen: In one of His teachings, Jesus talks about how the broken and sinful world hates Him, and because of that, they will hate all those who follow Him. (John 15:18-25) Many times, people will hate on us because we love Jesus, because we’re trying to honour God, because we try to do what is right and honourable. Sometimes, people will just hate and exclude us for no reason at all. It’s the effects of the fallen nature of this world, but Jesus calls us to be better: to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matt. 5:44) Furthermore, exclusion is usually a sign of immaturity and some have not grown to understand inclusiveness and the effects of making people feel cast out and not belong. If you’ve felt burned, disrespected, excluded, and unwelcomed, realize some have not grown up yet, but show grace by forgiving them for what they’ve done. That’s what Christ did for us.
- Pray for change: What we’re all looking for is a community that accepts us for who we really are. Being fake will only lead to fake acceptance. From the sermon, we are brought together by our faith and by God Himself. So, be praying for each other! It’s only the Lord that can change hearts. HEARTCHECK: When we pray, let’s not be selfish and only pray so that we can have more friends or that our entourage would increase. Let’s pray in order that the other person’s faith be built up. (Romans 15:2) We can pray that he/she would come to know the Lord and that they would be able to have a deep and personal relationship with Him. Also, pray for a spirit of unity and that God would draw believers together as a community that worships, encourages, and supports one another.
- Finding acceptance: Firstly, you have the love and acceptance of God Himself (because of who He is, and not by anything we’ve done) and we can dwell on that. Secondly, there are communities around us that love us and accept us (family, church, friends, co-workers) – try to build those up. Thirdly, serve in a community – focusing on the needs of others will put our problems into perspective and service helps us cultivate relationships with other Christians with the common purpose and direction. As we pour out selflessly to honour God and others (the very characteristics of the Kingdom), He will meet our needs, including the peace and joy of acceptance and community.
