The fellowship of the inner ring

Inner rings, almost everyone has them. Those who do not, are either trying to get into one or seeking to form their own. It will be worth while to mention that inner rings are not necessarily bad things. As a matter of fact, they could be good for growth and encouragement. After all, everyone needs to belong somewhere. Christianity is one big inner ring of people who call themselves by the name of Christ. But, as mentioned by Lewis, there can come a point in which inner rings become detrimental to one well being. We have seen many evils (big and small) done in the name of inner rings. People have turned their backs on seeking Christ because of how some Christian within a church acted towards them. People have killed themselves because they were treated badly by some punks who think themselves to cool for other people and in the case of gangs, we have seen lives ended because people from one inner ring having animosity towards people of other inner rings.

As followers of Christ, however, we are called to be different. This, as I see it, will entail being loving to all people and accepting all people. But, even in this, there are things to do and not to do. As I mentioned earlier in class, church is not an event for unbelievers. I know this may sound harsh and someone will be say "how can you exclude anyone from church," but I believe a closer look at church itself will make this idea clear. At a church service, members of the congregation pray, sing and hear faith affirming sermon from their pastors. To a non-believer, non of this would matter or even make any sense. To see this differently, it would be like going to dinner with an italian family, which the whole dinner are speaking italian (which you don't speak), but every once in a while, one of the family members look at you and smile, hoping you are following the conversation; The problem is, of cause, no one as taking the time to teach you the language or even try to explain what's going on; had they done so, you would be fully in the conversation like one of the family members. This is the same thing when a non-believer goes to church, they sit in the pews wondering why everyone is so attentive, while, they feel like sleeping. It would make much more sense if someone had actually taking the time to tell he/her the gospel (like we are called to do) so that what they hear in the pew make sense.

Now, this is the point someone might object by saying, "what about Christ? he did not exclude anyone." At this, I would have to invite the person to a closer look at Christ. It is true that Christ showed all people love (as we are also called to do) but, it is clear that Christ separated all other people from his disciples. Christ never allowed just any person to follow him, all those who followed him (as disciples, or helpers) were told to follow him on the condition that they leave their old lives behind. Christ never said to a prostitute "continue sinning and follow me," it was clear that those who choose to follow him were not willfully committing sinful acts. Further, the apostle Paul made it clear that church service was designed for the believer, to the point that led him to encourage the church of Corinth (1 cor 5:1-2) to kick out the person on the basis that he was acting as an unbeliever (sleeping with his step-mother) till he repents of his sins.