The Reunion

I attended a high school reunion last weekend. It was an interesting experience to say the least. One of the most intersting parts of it, though, was a statement made by one of the organizers.

She said: "isn't it great that we can all be together and none of that high school stuff is here?"

What she meant was that none of the cliques and groupings and ostrasizing that so many feel not being in the "in crowd" was absent after these many years.

The funny thing was - she was totally wrong. All of the same stratification that we all suffered through in high school was totally evident there at the reunion - the jocks and popular crowd sat up front and were all hugs and bravado - while the others felt just as left out as before.

Now, I'm not sound sour grapes or anything - I actually do have a point. At first I thought - "isn't it great that in the church none of that "high school" stuff exists?" The trouble is - it does. We have our own cliques and "in" groups in church too. And I think it's wrong. We should make an effort to make sure everyone is equally welcomed and equally treated.

This has been a problem in the church since its inception. James talked about it in his letter (James 2). Paul also addressed the inequality of treatment in the church:

Galatians 3:27-28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female , for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ESV

I know we can't get rid of all the human tendency to gather into groups - including some and exluding others - but we should make that effort - why? In part because of another reunion we will all attend - the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

When Jesus comes to take us away with him in the rapture, we'll attend the biggest blowout reunion the universe has ever seen. At that reunion the organizer will be able to stand up and say "isn't it great that all that earth-stuff is gone?"

Why don't we start now.