Sometimes we do things that impact others in a negative way, not because we are mean or evil, but because we are self-absorbed, clueless and oblivious.
This happened in Corinth. A group of well off Christians with time on their hands would arrive early at the church agape feast (potluck dinner with communion). They would eat and drink and enjoy their friends, oblivious to the fact that they were eating all the food that the poorer church members relied on. When the slaves and working class arrived after a hard day of labor there was nothing left for them and their wealthy brothers were sloshed and gorged.
This accentuated the class differences that the church was trying to bridge, and ruined the whole idea that "in Christ we are all equal and unified."
Paul told the early arrivers to get their eyes off themselves, start being aware of others, and eat at the same time!
In our day, it's easy to be self-absorbed and oblivious, hanging out with people just like ourselves, forming little affinity groups, and ignoring people who need our help or who are not just like us.
So I suggest five things that we can do to stave off this problem.
1. Attend the next mystery dinner. Occasionally we offer nights where 4-5 families gather to have dinner. Nobody knows who will show up to their group. New friendships are formed and barriers are crossed.
2. Commit to meeting new people during our handshaking times in the services. Don't just run to greet your friends. Reach out to a stranger. Empathize with the person who knows nobody, and do something about it.
3. Commit to meeting new people after the service at the coffee hour. Look for the person standing in a corner and include them. Don't be so self-absorbed that you don't even see the isolated person. Don't be clueless and oblivious.
4. While taking communion remind yourself that despite some pretty big differences, we are all one in Christ.
5. When you attend a church potluck dinner look for the family that is sitting alone, and plop down next to them. This is especially important if that family is new or is attending a potluck for the first time.
Most Christians I know are really great people. They are not mean or nasty, but they can be oblivious. Let's reduce our clueless level and reach out to people who are not just like us!
Related passages: Jude 12, Acts 2.42-47, Ephesians 2.19-22, Galatians 3.28.
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